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I watched the documentary in Danish TV saturday 27th April 2013, and I was and I am still so moved, quiet and sad about this tragedy. But I am also aware that man on eart always have been doing things like that - further, longer, faster. In this special case me and my family will send all our thoughs and prayers to the loved memory of Andrew and his dear Family and relatives. As a sailor on a small hobby basis here in Denmark I know, how powerful the Sea and the waves are, so wiht that in mind I send you all my deepest respect for this spectacular but also tragic attempt.

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jessie
11 years ago

Andy was my uncle and i know some people may criticise what he did and may say he was heartless and a failure but you cant judge him al you like but you don't know him he was truly an incredible man and will always be remembered in our family as an amazing man he did what he loved and had a true passion and he got of his bum and tried to change history which is more than i can say about a lot of people finlay is so proud of him dad and so he should be and yes he will not have a father to grow up with but the has the most incredible mum and amazing family to look after him he is now 8 and is really good and thank you to everyone who left such lovely comments i will pass them on to finlay and vicki R.I.P Andy you were and amazing man and you are missed every day i love you x

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janice
11 years ago

I have watched the doco three times now ans asked my children to watch it with me last night. So sad, so sad, so sad. Prayers and thoughts for Vicki and Finlay, that they retain all teh special memories of Andrew.

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ss1
11 years ago

Just watched the documentary "on National Geographic Channel at June 29th 2012 @ 2am in the USA. never heard of this life story. it was great to see his strength and how sad the 1st launch went with him crying hard as his son kept saying bye dad. You could feel the pull to do this and the pull he had to come back to his family. I hope his son and wife are doing well...shocking how old his son must be now (mabe 9 or 10???) Wondering what month Andrew McAuley was born in? April or... rip Andrew

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Ehmjay
12 years ago

Andrew Mcauley's story really moved me. You're an inspiration, your story will be remember forever. To Vicki and Finlay be strong, Andrew is in good hand right now. God Bless you all!!

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Susiemae
12 years ago

I watched the documentary about Andrew last night. I can honestly say that it really moved me so much that I had to google his name this morning to see if I could find out more about him. It was so tragic for him to make it so far yet to lose his life in those final kilometres. However, he achieved what no-one else had, I just wish he was still here to realise that achievement.

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Victoria Hardy
12 years ago

Victoria Hardy, Im just sitting in my room and im watching the program about this extremely brave man who loved adventure Im so sorry for the belated condolences that i send to Andrews family my thoughts are with you all

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i was so sad to hear about andrew mcauley. he made it vicky. love to you and finlay. love michelle in bedfordshire, england

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i was so sad to hear about andrew mcauley. he made it vicky. love to you and finlay. love michelle in bedfordshire, england

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Carlos
13 years ago

, does the father of a three-year-old have the right to take such a risk as Andrew did? Im sure answer is NO Rest in peace.

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Mel
13 years ago

Andew is the first person to paddle cross the Tasman Sea unassisted. He is a true pioneer, and because of him, crossing the Tasman in a similar way is now doaable.

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Doris Neoh
13 years ago

I have watched his documentry SOLO last night on TV1 New Zealand , and have been moved to tears. Andrew McAuley is a truely hero and spiritual inspiration. This mans' final minutes must have been horrendous. My heart goes out to him and his family. May god always be with his wife Vicky and son . Doris Neoh /Auckland .

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Lee Mccrindle
13 years ago

We watched his story on Eden yesterday and I was moved to tears. When he was asking himself why he was doing such a journey, myself and my kids ( 4 and 9 ) were screaming at the TV to just go back !! To continue with such an endeavour fully knowing the risks is truely very inspiring. My heart goes out to you Vicki and your son, never let him forget the hero his father is. Kind wishes.

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Phillip Oxley
13 years ago

I have watched his documentry tonight, and have been moved to tears. It is incredibly cruel that a man, of such deep courage and integrity, be taken away from a son when so many lesser men are spared. Andrew McAuley is a true spiritual inspiration. This mans' final minutes must have been horrendous. After surviving over 1500 km, Knowing that he would be leaving a family that he clearly loved dearly, with nothing but ocean surrounding him and no rescue. My heart goes out to him and his family. They have my deepest respect and love. This man will be more of a father to that small boy in his abscence, than many men who are still with us. He will be with me always, and my heart with his family. Phill (UK)

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Aubrey Noble
13 years ago

Hi Phillip....very, very well said...my thoughts exactly. I had seen parts of the documentary last year, but finally got to see it in it's entirety the other night, & as a father, it makes you think about what you portray to your own child? My wife & I have had a very long road (11yrs) via IVF to finally have a wonderful son, who is about the same age as Findlay was when his Dad ventured into this expedition...I couldn't help but feel the emotion from both Andrew's & Findlay's point of view...but to also learn from them both...& I will probably recall them to mind regularly... as for those people who place negative comments about whether it was right or wrong, or that his wife Vicki should have stopped him, etc, need to take a look into history...because it's people like Andrew & his family who are the pioneers...who have gone out & taken it to the world! THANKYOU Andrew, for giving me an incredible amount of inspiration...I think of you regularly & when playing with my son 'Grady', always remember you & Findlay!

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Roller
13 years ago

I watched the documentary when it aired on 15th sept 2010 - weird i think of it quite a bit ... was very moving and in a sense uplifting ... but so damn close. But what a life eh - kudos - will think of Andrew Mcauley from time to time , and those loved her left behind :(

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mike
13 years ago

I am a basic kayaker and when I watched the documentary I could not get it out of mind for it was very disturbing for the fact that how he battled against everything to nearly pull it off. His absolute adventurous spirit clouded his vision of judgement and it was left to his so called professional back up team to advise him and they should have told him how foolhardy his plan was. His kayak design and plan was crazy, they should be held responsible for his death. Apart from this it was the most compelling documentary I have ever watched.

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Sjef
13 years ago

When i saw the movie 2 jun 2010 on the dutch television. Andrew left us in silence. In our heart we Know that his fear is our fear. We will always remember his passion.

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Patrick de Rooij
13 years ago

Yesterday i watch the documentary of Andrew. The story stayed with me the next day, the whole day. What a great man. A real hero in my eyes and i have the deepest respect for what he wanted to do. I did not know when the documentary was coming to an end of Andrew had made it or not. When i found out that he died i almost started to cry. Like his wife said, "he made it" and so he did. All the best for his wife, son and the rest of his family. Patrick, the Netherlands.

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Malu Prak
13 years ago

Yesterday i couldn't sleep. So i put the tv on. I watched the documentary. From the beginning till the end i was deeply touched. After that i couldn't sleep at all.....tears, silence...thinking.... Deeply respect for Andrew! And yes he made it! i wish all the best for his wife and son...

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Johnny
13 years ago

Yesterday the movie "Solo" touched me deeply. I've deep respect for Andrew. Deeply respects also for his wife and son. Johnny, the Netherlands

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Impresionante el valor y el coraje que hay que tener para dejar todo en este mundo por un sueño , hijo, mujer , familia . No tengo palabras para descrivirlo después de Ver el documental. Lo único que se puede decir a la familia , animo en la vida y ese niño orgulloso siempre de su padre . Hasta siempre JESUS Álvarez

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ana
13 years ago

Me ha dejado impresionada lo que hizo este hombre.Por un lado la locura de embarcarse en ese viaje tan durísimo y por otro la valentía de hacerlo ,para mi ,hasta el final.Cuesta imaginar para la gente normal como yo lo que te impulsa a hacer eso.La verdad es que estoy muy triste,es horrible que perdiera la vida después de tanto esfuerzo y a un sólo día.

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bron
13 years ago

ive just finished watching his film solo...he made it no matter what any one says ..it made me cry just thinking about his poor family..his memory will always live on...hes a true hero

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Claire Walsh
13 years ago

Andrew is my second cousin and I would like to pay my respects to his wife and son. My name is Claire Walsh I am 13yrs old and I am doing a assignment on him. If you have any information that would be very helpful. Thank you.

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jason
13 years ago

just finished watching the movie solo and it ripped my heart out. What Andrew did was the gnarliest thing anybody has ever done on planet earth.

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Ben
14 years ago

One of the truely greatest Australians to ever live. He made It

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Thomas
14 years ago

I saw the documentary yesterday. As a father it was heart wrenching to see your first goodbye, with yout young son calling out for you. I do not judge your choices, but hope that you and your family will find peace, despite this tragic loss. RIP

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Mel
14 years ago

Andrew absolutely made it in my books, may his soul rest in peace and may god watch over his loving family.

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lorna
14 years ago

May God give his family a man who is worthy of being therefore tor them, to me a person who risks their life to raise money to saving a child with cancer, or risk life and limb for a cause which is for another person is indeed a hero and a champion to humanity, however a person who is an adrelaine junky no matter how lovely they are have a problem, in that something is lacking in themselves they will sacrifice everything their family, their health, their future all for the sake of a prizxe or glory. Being GREAT is about caring for those who depend on you, not wanting a trophy sitting on the mantal piece. Rest in Peace, I pray in your next life you understand being a hero is about doing whats right for others, not about being a glory hunter.

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Christian Schmidt
14 years ago

Ich habe ebenfalls die Dokumentation gesehen und war zutiefst bewegt. Besonders schrecklich fand ich die Tatsache, dass er selber die Entscheidung diese Tour durchzuführen bereut hat! Aber es gab kein Zurück! Er wollte mehr für seine Familie da sein, aber er konnte dies leider nicht mehr. Meine Gedanken gelten der Familie und besonders seinem kleinen Sohn, der sich nie an seinen Vater erinnern wird. Andrew, Du hättest nie fahren sollen!!!

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I was seeing this documentry today ....Andrew your courage is SO BIG even your life could not stand before that...it failed. But you made some thing in the history that is very unique. No one do's such a thing.....Let your soul shall R I P in HIS courageous arms, Paul

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lindsey
14 years ago

Andrew, like so many others, chose to put his self centered goal ahead of his physical well being. I have no problem with that per se. My problem is when the people who do this do so after bringing a child in to the world. Children don't ask to be born. When Andrew and his wife decided to be parents, they gave up the right to roll this dice with their mortality. There are enough threats to life and health without undertaking something that had such a high risk of death. Don't even get me started about his wife, who said that she didn't feel that she had the right to ask him not to go. Gee, thanks mom.

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Anonymous
14 years ago

I saw your documentory on ABC the other night, I had no idea of your story beforehand and I found it gripping, inspiring and unforgettable. Your courage was mindblowing and I have not stopped thinking about your story since. Your story will stay with me always. You made it in my eyes.

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Julie
14 years ago

I saw your documentory on ABC the other night, I had no idea of your story beforehand and I found it gripping, inspiring and unforgettable. Your courage was mindblowing and I have not stopped thinking about your story since. Your story will stay with me always. You made it in my eyes.

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mountainclimber
14 years ago

An inspiration for us all.

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Mioo
14 years ago

rest in peace Andrew McAuley i saw your documentary last night (16.4.9) and i been having nightmares i know i'm not related to you at all but your story is just so interesting. you did what you wanted and you DID make it RIP Andrew McAuley

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gregers petersen
15 years ago

I,m from Denmark.I saw the documentary on tv2 norway last night.(16.3.09). As a sailor,I don,t understand why he challenged the oceans.But he had his reasons,and I respect him for that. In the future,educating our children,the story of Andrew McAuley should be remembered aside the likes of Fridtjof Nansen and other great explorers of the world. Respects, Gregers Petersen,Denmark.

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Anthon Miers
15 years ago

Amazing! i true example of what some of use our capable off! thanks for remind us!

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Marcel
15 years ago

Saw it on the BBC a few days ago, keep thinking about it, it made my flesh creep. All the best to his family and friends.

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michael rich
15 years ago

So very sad to learn of the lost of a true hero, i wish i could have met him, i am a kayaker and also disabled and can imagine what andrew went through, it must have been hard to spend so long alone and away from his loverly wife vikki and son findlay. i have been very sadend since watching the documentary on sunday, but also fansinated at the chalenge andrew set himself, ive watched it three times now. i hope there will be a book and a film about andrew and the tasman, i will be the first in line for a copy of the book and any dvd films about him, i also wish there could be a statue of him maybe at milford sound ? mike rich....uk.

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Chris Hambley
15 years ago

Chanced across this on BBC Sky + and watched this last night. Andrew pushed the boundary of human life itself .I believe it would have been quiet somthing to have know this man and to have been part of his life. Im sorry he is no longer with us on this side of life, but with out people like Andrew we would all still believe the world was flat. I hope i bump into him when i pass , i will be a pleasure. Untill then Chris.(UK)

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jessie
11 years ago

this is such a lovely memory note thank you very much andy was my uncle and it was such an honour to have him in my life thank you chris

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Corinne
15 years ago

As I am well into adventure sports, I started to watch the program on BBC and got really affected by what I discovered... I found Andrew's trip so amazing and beautiful and so terrible. I felt really strong emotions during watching part of his videos recorded during his trip, he had such a strong dedication and adventure spirit that also made him realised the beauty of having a passion, family and friends and how life was worth living. He made it so close to the end, I can't believe the Tasman Sea took such a great man, I can't believe NZ authorities didn't start looking for him straight away. All my thoughts to his family, wife and son, and to you Andrew, i hope you are in peace in harmony with the element.

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Jordan
15 years ago

I also saw the BBC documentary last night and from start to end i was glued to the TV Screen ! My thoughts go out to his family and friends. What he mush have gone though must have been terrible. It was a grate Documentary and all night i have been reading all about him ! What a strong person ! This is real determination and something to look up to ! Rest in peace, Jordan Semple (UK)

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Jordan
15 years ago

I also saw the BBC documentary last night and from start to end i was glued to the TV Screen ! My thoughts go out to his family and friends. What he mush have gone though must have been terrible. It was a grate Documentary and all night i have been reading all about him ! What a strong person ! This is real determination and something to look up to ! Rest in peace, Jordan Semple (UK)

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Roger
15 years ago

Yester I switched channel to the BBC and saw the start of the documentary and was instantly taken by the footage. Within seconds I knew I was going to see it until the end as it took my breath away when I saw Andrew leaving his beloved wife and son, in tears. It all moved me in such a way that is was on my mind all day today and my thoughts go out to his family still. It makes you think about how fragile we are and we ought to cherish the life we live. May this adventurer rest in peace. Roger, Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

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paul
15 years ago

Also saw documentary on TV tonight, very moving and sad. I can´t even imagine how brave and strong someone has to be to endeavour in a challenge like that. He made it. R.I.P

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Mo Cook
15 years ago

Saw the programme on the BBC this evening i was moved to tears i have been kayaking for sometime the adventure he took on was Huge and Hard. It took a great amount of self belief, courage, and determination. HE MADE IT R.I.P

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Walter Grace
16 years ago

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Walter Grace
16 years ago

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Walter Grace
16 years ago

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Walter Grace
16 years ago

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Respectance
17 years ago

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