Ambrogio Fogar
Encyclopedia
Ambrogio Fogar (IPA: [ˈfɔːgaɾ]) was an Italian
sailor, rally driver and all-round adventurer. He was a Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
.
His exploits included a number of successful long-distance sailing feats, such as becoming the first Italian to sail single-handedly from east to west around the world. In 1978, after being capsized by killer whales, he survived more than ten weeks in a life raft in the South Atlantic along with a friend, journalist Mauro Mancini, who died of pneumonia
two days after they were rescued. After this, Fogar largely abandoned sailing. He made an unsuccessful attempt to walk to the North Pole
and competed several times in the Dakar Rally
.
In 1992 Fogar was paralysed from the neck down following a jeep accident while rallying in Turkmenistan
. This did not end his adventurous spirit, and in 1997, in a wheelchair, he competed in a round-Italy yacht race.
He died in 2005 of a heart attack.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
sailor, rally driver and all-round adventurer. He was a Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic was founded as the senior order of knighthood by the second President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi in 1951...
.
His exploits included a number of successful long-distance sailing feats, such as becoming the first Italian to sail single-handedly from east to west around the world. In 1978, after being capsized by killer whales, he survived more than ten weeks in a life raft in the South Atlantic along with a friend, journalist Mauro Mancini, who died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
two days after they were rescued. After this, Fogar largely abandoned sailing. He made an unsuccessful attempt to walk to the North Pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
and competed several times in the Dakar Rally
Dakar Rally
The Dakar Rally is an annual rally raid type of off-road automobile race, organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation...
.
In 1992 Fogar was paralysed from the neck down following a jeep accident while rallying in Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan , formerly also known as Turkmenia is one of the Turkic states in Central Asia. Until 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic . Turkmenistan is one of the six independent Turkic states...
. This did not end his adventurous spirit, and in 1997, in a wheelchair, he competed in a round-Italy yacht race.
He died in 2005 of a heart attack.