oceanrowing



GIG ROWER, 23, DIES IN RACE
11:00 - 16 July 2007	PETRA MANN
A top gig rower in training for a transatlantic marathon collapsed and died at the weekend after taking part in a gruelling race off the Isles of Scilly. Nathan Woodcock, 23, who lived with his partner and their one-year-old daughter, was a lifeboat engineer and passionate sportsman. Yesterday, his grieving great-great uncle described the 6ft 4in rower as "a gentle giant who died doing what he loved best". Last night, the precise cause of his death remained a mystery, although police said that they were not treating it as suspicious. A post-mortem examination will now be held on Mr Woodcock, from St Mary's, Isles of Scilly. Mr Woodcock had been planning to row across the Atlantic next year with three other islanders in a rowing race from New York to the Bishop Rock Lighthouse, off the Scillies. The team hoped to smash the record for a four-person transatlantic crossing of 55 days 13 hours. His grieving great-great uncle, Eric Woodcock, described the lasting legacy the young man had left behind in his short life. Mr Woodcock said: "Nathan was a kind and gentle 6ft 4in giant loved by everyone. His family was everything to him. "He loved the sea and his job on the lifeboat as an engineer. He was so proud of his lifeboat. "Nathan's next love was the gigs. In a short time, he had done a lot for the sport in Scilly. "Alas, he died doing what he loved best." Mr Woodcock and his partner Vicky had a one-year-old daughter called Megan. It was at around 9.30 on Friday night that tragedy struck. Mr Woodcock suddenly collapsed in a gig at the end of a race. Gig races are held every week against teams from the other islands. Medical staff had battled to save Mr Woodcock - who was born and bred on the islands - but they were unable to revive him. The coroner has been informed and a post-mortem examination has yet to be held. Gig racing has long been a popular sport on the islands, drawing communities together. The gigs are created from elm and are 30ft long. Each carries six rowers along with a coxswain. Mr Woodcock lived in Falmouth for a while, where he studied marine engineering. The shocked island community began to pay its respects to Mr Woodcock as soon as news spread. On Friday night, the local social club, the Scillonian, cut short its regular band performance. Friends described Mr Woodcock as a fit young man who enjoyed life. A close family friend described the devastating effect Mr Woodcock's death had had on the close-knit island community. She said: "A friend said Nathan was a legend at 23. He seemed the picture of health. "And I think that just about sums up what everyone felt about him. "The island is so quiet - his death has had a profound effect on all of us. "It's often said that someone was loved by everyone - but Nathan really was. "We are all going to miss him very, very much." Mr Woodcock's team had been rowing in the 1830s-built Bonnet gig - the oldest boat on the islands. Mr Woodcock's team had been transferring into another gig, as part of the event, when he collapsed. David Jenkins, who lives on the island, said: "He was a very popular guy, born and bred on St Mary's. He had his dream job, he met his partner a couple of years ago and they had a baby daughter. Everything was looking good for him. Gig racing is part of island life in the Scillies. Everyone has gone quiet." pmann@westernmorningnews.co.uk