His destination was not Dominica when he left his home country Sweden on January 31 , 2014, alone in a rowing boat and headed for the Caribbean.
But after 90 days at sea, rowing for 10 hours a day, Peder Astrom, 34, made it safely to Dominica.
DNO was on site when Astrom landed at a jetty in Newtown and described his adventure as “tough” with some “good and bad days. ”
“You have to be physically strong to do that because I had to row everyday for 10 hours, but it had been tough, ” he said.
Questioned about the reasons for this adventure he explained, “I had some major injuries to my back and elbow in 2008 and as a way of coming back, I decided to do an adventure to come back to normal life.”
His aim, he said ,was Barbados but he encountered waves from the south which disrupted his plans and after consultation with his mom, Maria Johansson Geiger, he was advised to take a look at Dominica instead and from there his boat would be shipped back to Sweden.
Astrom said meals were ‘ready made’ in containers and could be eaten at anytime.
He also had a satellite phone to communicate freely with his mom and others.
He noted that he was in the ocean off the coast of Scotts Head and was feeling tired when he requested help from Dominica.
“It is finally over, I feel great to be here, now is time for celebration,” he said. “At times I felt like giving up but I had to continue, so I had to continue rowing.”
He said he will now clean his boat and have it shipped back home.
His mother, Maria, who had traveled to Dominica from Sweden, arriving four days before her son, says she was concerned but not worried, since she was always in touch with him and knew he was safe.
She thanked God that he made it safely to Dominica and the Caribbean.
There is a DOMINICAN from Portsmouth who traveled by himself from the America’s to the Southern Caribbean by himself. There are people who do these trips and like to stay out of the limelight etc. They are all legal but stay tight lip. I wondered why but after reading some of these comments I understood. Negatively will get you no more then the breath you took to say or write it. Broaden your knowledge look beyond the horizon. Until next Time
Are we going to give him a DA passport? Remember he was heading for Barbados? Another foreigner made good news for himself in DA…He made us popular …. the world sees and hears…
@Francisco Telemaque May 8, 2014 —be informed that when you hear people talking about Christopher Columbus, discovered the world
Christopher Columbus discovered the world???????????
And only until the mid late 1400’s? Where was he living at that time, if it was he who discovered the world at that stage of time?
And you claim to be teaching people! You are just lucky that DNO bloggers don’t have patient to read–you would be flattened to your last bone by now–good heavens!
Elizabeth, you are so sad; it would be a waste of time to even try to reason with you, or give you any significant information because you would not be capable of comprehending. Nothing makes sense to you unless it is conceived, and developed in your mind. Nobody have any information that you do not already have.
I suppose the reason you taught school in your village at twelve years old is because you were the smartest kid alive then, and you are the smartest woman preacher, and god alive today.
You see what you get for bothering me?
In any event I will give you another that will make your head reel: Hannibal, the man who took (defeated) Rome in a War, was a Black man, ask yourself where did he live. I told you already your elementary education cannot stand the test of time against one who is academically educated you know. Besides you told me when I see you write your (ting an dem) on DNO I must leave them alone and do not respond to your comments: I have complied, have you seen me had anything to say in regards to anything you wrote recently?
Well, I am returning the same compliments to you. When you see my “ting” written on DNO doh respond to it; leave it alone okay! You think I did read all that thing you wrote in response to Dr. Christian comments regarding Yeast? You see I did not trouble you, you always want to start some fight, but it is not going happen, forget you oui!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
HE DESERVE A GREAT BIG WELCOME AND CELEBRATION!!!!!!!!
what an adventure, keep it up enjoy Dominica
i am writing this from london am a Dominican,my daughter was born in Gothenburg western sweden. yes these people are truly good people friendliest nation
There have been more than people know .Dominica have people that has taken lonely trips by themselves on the ocean LEGALLY from places like inside coast of the America’s to the Caribbean.
kudos to you , rowing a boat every 10 hr that is some strength, this is not easy to do, but I guess you a use to this. and welcome to the Nature Island enjoy the best of it while you are there.
great job my boy please visit screws before u go back and come again . we meet a couple last year from sweden very friendly people . welcome to our nature isle………………..
In many ways the world is a better place because of mankind’s adventurous and curious self. There are always new ways of challenging ourselves and proving that many things are possible with sheer determination and will power and a little preparation. There is alot we can all learn and we should all celebrate with him, not just for the achievement but just to be also fortunate to be part of it. It can also serve as promotion for us. hats off to DNO once again for being that refreshing air of journalism and getting the stories in first.
Talk about more crazy outside dan inside… lol mister too happy
Everything for Dominicans is politics. The stupidity in these comments is appalling. Grow a brain. Smh
yeaah Tsebi , thats great and Dominica is beautiful island, have been there twice and going back again soon :), good people Dominicans
respect to you !!! from Estonia
And respect to the swedish man who crossed the Atlantic
What a beautiful story. I am glad that it is in Dominica that he found refuge–God has blessed our land with His Love; it too bad that our people will not accept that Love from Him.
By the way DNO, your “thumbs rating” feature won’t work for me since yesterday–do you know the reason for that or is fault of my mouse?
Them bajans must be pissed of we taking all their tourists….
To the Astroms: Welcome to Dominica!
Peder Astrom is a brave man. He was meant to land in Dominica. I hope he gets some good rest, eat some sumptuous Dominica meals, drink some coconut water and other delicacies, then do some sight-seeing and meet new friends prior to returning to Sweden.
It is said, mothers know best. It does pay to listen to Mom. His mom surely knew best. Her faith in God paid off for her son.
What a loving and caring mother she is and to travel to Dominica to meet him and be with him. You are a mother of Mothers.
I hope for both of you, your stay will be an enjoyable one. Visit again! The second time around you will become more acquainted with the island and its beautiful sceneries.
God bless you both!
Well done sir!! Congratulations on making it across the Atlantic through your own physical efforts! Fabulous story!!! God bless…….Welcome to Da!!
Welcome to the Nature Isle padna hope you enjoy every bit of it. I am proud of you but would not want to be you.be sure to visit as much as you can while on the island.
A black man would be too coward to attempt such bravery.
The only thing the black man scared of is to standing up for himself. And any one black man that get in power ensuring that other black man stay down.
Ask the powerful laborites about the last one.
that sounds like a very racist comment…
You see how dumb, and ignorant some of us Dominicans are! When you say “a black man would be coward to attempt such bravery, attempt what the heck are you talking about? It is your kind which aids and abate other people’s idea that Black people are inferior!
For your information idiot!
If memory serves me correct, in the 1960’s/70’s Morgan Freeman, famous American Black movie actor, you may have seen him in rolls with Clint Eastwood; sailed alone around the world in his yacht, other Black people has also done that. And let me open up on you because you are a fool: be informed that when you hear people talking about Christopher Columbus, discovered the world; I am here to tell you the navigator who plotted the voyages, was indeed a Black man, who got no credit for his navigational, and scientific skills.
Do you know how a navigational plot is drawn, I know because we had a ship, we sail from Denmark in Europe to the Caribbean, one have to be very precise in plotting the route, an error of one degree, plus or minous could mean one may never see land again.
I do not see any bravery in someone rowing across any ocean as bravery, if anything I consider that to be suicidal, how do we know he did not have a death wish. I have been in the North Sea, in that part called Biscayne, I have seen waves more than a hundred feet tall, I have seen such waves break on the deck of our ship, bending steal iron, so to me anyone who tempted fate like that might be a little bit warped!
Your kind is embarrassing to the rest of us who are halfway intelligent; some of you will never be in a position to use your real name on DNO because of your stupidity!
I would like to place in front of you a black toy, and a white toy, just to see which one you would pick to play with, if my suspicions are correct I am sure you would chose the white toy. I am not prejudice, nevertheless, your kind makes me sick to my stomach when I read your stupid comments.
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Mash!
you have zero IQ?
You’ve clearly never heard of Matthew Henson: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Henson
Did Matthew Henson sail around the world alone?
I doubt that!
When we repeat history, we must be careful not to deviate or distort it in anyway.Let us agree according to history Henson was born in Maryland, on the 6th day of August 1866; he became an orphan at eleven (11) years old; by the time he was thirteen (13) years old he began working on a ship based in Baltimore as cabin boy. The captain of the ship taught Matthew Henson to read and write.
I suppose because of his experience at sea, that played a major roll when in 1890, the year my late grandmother was born: Henson joined Peary’s first Arctic expedition across the Northern tip of Greenland. From June 1891 to August 1902 Henson spent seven years in the Arctic with Peary, covering nine (9,000) miles on dog-sleds across Northern Greenland, and Ellesmere island in Canada.
I know he was a sailor, however, I found no records, nor have I read in any book of which there are many where he solo around the world. I not go onto the Website you sighted, so cannot say you did not read that somewhere. However I have not found that in any research which I have done in the past, nor in the books I read. What I do know as usual in such circumstance credit is never given to who it belongs, for in Henson’s case he reached the North pole many days prior to Perry, nevertheless, Peary robbed Henson of that credit.
As a result both men became more or less enemies to the day the departed this earth; and even in death Henson’s progenies left behind in Greenland, family refused to own him and his family who went to Greenland to visit and became aquented with them. By the same token Peary’s family who went to visit the family of the children he also left behind accepted their American relatives.
the difference is one Black, one white, in any event Peary’s success depended on Henson, without Henson, the name Peary, would not have made it into the history books, but we should not by any means make it appear as if Henson sail around the world alone!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Nobody giving us an inferiority conmplex but ourselves brother. Time to stop seeing ourselves as different from other human beings. Believe me, we all coming from the same source.
Why u mem doh do it ur self ?
what an adventure! Happy that you completed your journey safely.
Anyone who is gullible enough to believe this fable must be thinking Lennox will win the upcoming election also.
idiot, what does lennox have to do with that brave man?
He had his GP. S
Labour!!!!! Power!!!! way to go!!! Good to see fellow labourites doing good things! Skerrit ka Twavay!!! We rowing all the way to the next Elections!
whoo this man has more guts than a fish. anyway congrats
Fantastic Mr. Astrom, you are a true viking but don’t forget to pay your departure tax when you leave. We don’t charge for coming but we do for going and don’t discriminate against foreigners. We only charge them 30% more, that’s fair isn’t it?
Ah JoJo!
He should be exempt based under his condition. In fact, both of them. A concession should be made for them.
I agree with you. In fact we should abolish that departure tax altogether. That is not a friendly tax at all.
What a story to tell. We give God thanks for this young man. He has the spirit of a lion. CONGRATULATIONS!!
You ask God for what????? Let’s ask god for more important things…. World Peace, equality, freedom from diseases and I could think of bigger things. I think God should show his muscles and foster more job creation here in Dominica. What this guy was doing is what he likes to do. This is what we as humans should do, do our do and help your brothers and sisters of the world.
ok so the mom lives in Dominica? I am confused DNO. from the article it seems like he was calling her back in Sweden. Can you just clarify thanks?
Admin: This part of the story has been clarified. The mother actually traveled to Dominica from Sweden, ahead of Astrom’s arrival.
This was what was stated on DNO’s article: She traveled from Sweden to D/ca to meet him. Coming from such a long distance, the fare to and from must have cost a lot including her son’s fare.
DNO if I were you, I would simply ignore those stupid comment. The news article said: “His mother, Maria, who had traveled to Dominica from Sweden, arriving four days before her son” What is so confusing about this that a person cannot read and understand it? Gush man!!!!!!!!!!
Big up to The Dominica Marine Center…..the jetty off Sukie’s Enterprises newtown.
Welcome to Dominica……a very strong and adventurous man.
Did Suki do the rowing? First a bicycle and now a rowing boat, that man is awesome.
them man is really what you call “happy fellers” lol lol
He must be well-off. Why not join him!
Some of them are adventurous.
wow quite brave
white people=MAD people!!!
you having again your old schizophrenic attack?
Grow up. There is no color.
I guess it is ok for us to be racist but boy oh boy, think for one minute. If the reverse was said we would all be hopping mad and ask for the UN to impose sanction! We should stop being hypocrite.
Another successful Laborite… check his red shirt!!!
How could he be a laborite when he do not have a DA opassport
U really have no sense of humor…………..
Woooow ! And Thats A Strong Man ! Thank God You Arrived Safely To The Caribbean ! I Wish You Best Of Luck In Life ! #GoodJob …:)
wow now that is something else… thats a very strong and adventurous man
I wonder what path he took coming down from up there. If it was more of a straight left then downwards path or diaoganal path. Interesting story, great adventure. Nice…
Consider how deep the water is. He is indeed a brave man and to do it alone. Well, this is good discipline. I wonder if he will dare take a similar trip in the future.