Woman sails ocean after new lungs

Published on 02/07/2012 02:17

A DOUBLE-lung transplant patient has taken on more than 2,000 miles of ocean in one of the toughest legs of a round-the-world yacht race.

Justine Laymond, 39, endured exhaustion, storms and rough seas in the Atlantic during her four weeks in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race on board the Edinburgh Inspiring Capital.

She decided to join a relay team of transplant patients, surgeons and specialist nurses in the race to raise awareness of the difference an organ transplant can make to a seriously ill person.

Her life was transformed by a double-lung transplant in 2006 after suffering 15 lung collapses and being in a coma for three weeks.

Her achievement at sea was something she said she could never have dreamt of back then, but that her experience has taught her to “live life for today”.

Speaking about the race after arriving in Londonderry, Miss Laymond, from Essex, said: “Towards the end I thought I couldn’t do it. I’ve been hanging in there for the last few days and now I’m so happy. The crew have been so supportive and I can’t believe I’ve done it.”

Piers Dudin, the skipper of Edinburgh Inspiring Capital, said: “Justine’s done incredibly well.”