'Bubble man' Reza Baluchi rescued by coastguard en route from Florida to Bermuda

An endurance runner and peace activist whose latest goal was to travel 896 nautical miles from Florida to Bermuda in a homemade floating "Hydro Pod" was rescued by the coastguard after he began suffering from fatigue.

Iranian exile Reza Baluchi was picked up uninjured on Saturday 70 nautical miles off the coast of Florida.

Three days earlier, the coastguard had been called to the bubble where they found Baluchi disoriented and inquiring how to get to Bermuda. They warned him of the dangers of the proposed trip and asked Baluchi to end it. He refused, but activated his locator beacon on Saturday because of fatigue, a coastguard spokeswoman said.

Baluchi's website said he planned to make the trip in his self-designed bubble to raise money "for children in need" and "to … inspire those that have lost hope for a better future".

Baluchi's previous efforts to break long-distance running and cycling records include a six-month journey in which he ran around the perimeter of the United States, and a seven-year bike trip that he said took him across 55 countries. His self-professed mission is to promote world peace and unity.

Baluchi was granted asylum in the US in 2003 after being arrested in Iran for so-called pro-Western and anti-Islamic activities. He had served 18 months in jail for associating with "counterrevolutionaries", his lawyer said.