An out Irish rower who struggled for years with heroin and alcohol addictions has a new lease on life after breaking a series of records during a transatlantic rowing competition.

Gavan Hennigan, a 35-year-old deep sea diver from Galway, spent years battling drug addiction and depression because he couldn't come to terms with the fact that he was gay.

After surviving a suicide attempt and 15 years of living in various squats throughout Ireland, Hennigan realized it was time for a change and decided to train to compete in a 5000km solo row across the Atlantic.

Hennigan completed the row last Thursday after 49 days of fierce competition, finishing in third place. While he might not have won, he did set a new International Solo Row Course record and an Irish Solo Atlantic Row record.

”I’m so proud to have done this. Not many Irish have attempted a Solo row across the Atlantic and I feel I've done it in style," Hennigan said after landing in Antigua last week.

"I had so many messages of support. I’d get up some days and I’d be struggling but when I read the positivity in those notes and comments from complete strangers that would motivate me to get back on the oars and do it for them."

"This has been a life changing experience," he continued. "I’ve experienced the beauty of the Atlantic sunsets and sunrises, the thrill of open ocean row boat surfing, the despair of driving headwinds and the joy of arriving back on land today."

"For the past 49 days I’ve had one single goal: to live life," the 35-year-old concluded. "I’ve embraced every minute and I’m so happy to be here finally."

The race began on the island of la Gomera in the Canary Islands on December 14, with 12 boats taking to the water. Hennigan was one of four solo rowers, all of whom he bested.

Along the way, the Galway native raised money for Jigsaw, an organization dedicated to changing how Ireland thinks about youth mental health.

h/t: Irish Mirror