Amputee smashes able-bodied Atlantic rowing record: 'He's only bloody just gone and done it!'

An amputee who lost his leg in an accident has just beaten the able-bodied world record for a solo row across the Atlantic, by 36 days.

Ex-Marine, Lee Spencer, from Horrabridge, Devon, crossed from mainland Europe to South America within a mere two months.

The 49-year-old wanted the world to know he wasn’t “defined by disability”.

In a euphoric victory tweet on his Twitter account, it said: “HE’S ONLY JUST GONE AND BLOODY DONE IT! Lee has smashed the able-bodied record for rowing the Atlantic, solo, from mainland Europe to mainland South America, by a whopping 36 days #NotDefinedByDisability”.

Mr Spencer admitted to BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he "didn't get much sleep" but stated: "I have done 24 years as a Royal Marine, so I am quite used to hardship".

He said manoeuvring around the tiny boat with one leg was "quite difficult” but joked "that was the whole point."

Mr Spencer served as a Royal Marine for 24 years. In 2014 he lost his leg after being hit by debris whilst helping a motorist at the side of the M3.

The record-breaker has so far raised £49,000 for charities, including the Royal Marines Charity and the Endeavour Fund.