The 43-year-old lawyer already was having trouble steering his boat, a streamlined model built for speed but not necessarily sturdy enough to withstand a river known for commercial transport. The fish flew as Mr Pennington was trying to return to shore to repair his kayak, assisted by a competing three-man team. Pennington said he had to withdraw just hours into the 340-mile (550-kilometre) race because of a “pounding, pounding headache that kept getting worse.” A nurse suggested further medical treatment, but he declined.