AN ABERYSTWYTH man has completed the “challenge of a lifetime” by rowing across the Atlantic to raise money for charity.

Joe Lewis, 35, an aerospace engineer who now lives in Dublin but is originally from Aberystwyth, took part in the Team in Deep Ship challenge with teammates Jessica Mullins, 31, an occupational therapist from Canada, Lauren Hunt, 33, an architect living in the UK, and Jess Goddard, 30, a footwear

designer currently residing in Germany.

The Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge, which began in December, saw Joe and the team row from La Gomera in the Canary Islands, to Antigua in the Caribbean.

Having been at sea for 42 days, four hours and 54 minutes, the quartet completed the challenge at the end of January.

They were joined on parts of their journey by dolphins, a tiger shark and turtles, and for four days were accompanied by a minke whale, which they christened Twinky.

More people have climbed Everest than successfully completed this row, and Joe - who celebrated his 35th birthday and Christmas with his rowing companions during the trip - said it was the “challenge of a lifetime”.

Joe’s parents, Meurig and Anna Lewis, who live in Llanbadarn Fawr told the Cambrian News they were “immensely proud” of Joe’s achievement.

In Deep Ship are hoping to raise £60,000 for homeless charities Crisis UK and Covenant House Vancouver, and Anthony Nolan which fights for people with blood cancer.

Donations are still open at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/indeepship.