THE company behind the Atlantic rowing race which came under fire from Worcester rower Richard Wood has defended its running of the challenge.

The determined father-of-three said he was forced out of the 2,900-mile race because of events caused by a faulty messaging system supplied by Plymouth-based Challenge Business, which organised the event.

He says he sent 30 messages asking to be picked up after his partner Rob Ringer, from Cumbria, decided to retire.

But the company did not receive his messages, forcing him to row to the island of El Hierro, near Tenerife, after a two-day wait in the boat, called the Spirit of Worcestershire.

This, he claimed, meant he had to battle against the strong currents when he re-started his solo bid, before retiring due to injury.

"If a safety yacht had been sent I could have just carried on when Rob retired," he said.

"I'm certain I'd still be out doing the row if a boat was sent.

"When I did retire, the company then failed to provide a safety yacht and told me to leave the boat - which is worth more than £15,000 - at sea as I would have to be rescued by helicopter."

Rachel Anning, of Challenge Business, said investigations were underway into why the messages were not received, but added that Richard could have activated an emergency beacon, which would have received an immediate response.

She added that Richard had refused the assistance of the helicopter when he retired due to injury.

"Participants were told on a number of occasions that it should not be relied on as an emergency method for seeking assistance," she said.

"As Richard did not choose to use the emergency method of seeking outside help, they were not deemed to be in any immediate danger."

But Richard, of Northwick Road, said activating the beacon would have been "irresponsible" and rejected claims he had refused the helicopter.

He claimed he had asked for time to see if the boat could be towed to land, which his wife, Usha, had arranged from Worcester after he rang her on his satellite phone.

"If I had activated the emergency beacon I would have started a full-scale emergency rescue when the situation was not life-threatening," he said.

"The point of the messaging system was to get help without causing a full-scale rescue."