Ex-Royal Marine Dave 'Dinger' Bell completes world record 327-day solo row across two oceans for PTSD charity

From the Newshound archive · first published 2 October 2026.

Dave "Dinger" Bell, a former Royal Marine from Bere Regis in Dorset, arrived in Kilifi, Kenya, on Friday after rowing solo and unsupported across the Pacific and Indian Oceans — a distance exceeding 15,000 nautical miles. He had left Peru's west coast on 9 November last year and remained at sea for the entire crossing, carrying 350 days' worth of rations aboard his carbon-fibre boat. Prince William praised the feat on social media, writing: "An extraordinary achievement — huge congratulations to Dinger." Bell completed the 327-day journey to raise money for Rock2Recovery, a charity that supports veterans and emergency service workers with PTSD.

Bell finished ahead of schedule, landing in Kenya with 20 days' food still untouched.

Prince William, who also hosted a gala at Windsor Castle this week to mark the Royal Navy Submarine Service's 125th anniversary, called Rock2Recovery "a brilliant cause."