Adventurer Had Hoped To Pilot A Microlight Airplane From England To Australia

British tree surgeon Martin Bromage had hoped to fly his QuikR microlight airplane from London to Sydney, Australia as a fundraiser went down on Monday just five hours into his planned eight-week 11,000 mile journey.

After encountering bad weather on his crossing of the English Channel to France, the Times of London reports that he made a series of radio calls to French aviation authorities looking for an alternative to his planned arrival at Le Torquet airport. Unable to find a suitable alternative, he opted to return to England in the thick fog that had settled in over the Channel.

Bormage's body was found about 20 miles off the coast of France by a Portuguese tugboat. The aircraft has not been found.

Media sources report that Bromage's aircraft was equipped with a life raft and survival gear, and that he was wearing a floatation device. He was attempting to raise nearly $250,000 for the charity "Help for Heroes," which assists former members of the military. According to the organizations' web site, "Help for Heroes (H4H) was founded by Bryn and Emma Parry after a profoundly moving visit to Selly Oak Hospital in the summer of 2007. Bryn and Emma met some extraordinarily brave young people who had been badly wounded and they just wanted to do something to help."

Bromage is survived by his wife and two sons. "I have done a few adventurous trips in Europe in the microlight and I just thought to myself, why not push it that bit further?" he said shortly before his departure. "I've always had an appetite for adventure and I relish a challenge."

FMI: www.helpforheroes.org