I slept on the beach and had a slice of pizza for breakfast, which if I’m honest, was pretty average. It was a standard morning and I felt normal when I left just after 11, with the aim of getting to Genoa.

I took a direct line, out past a container ship, so was about 5km offshore. I had stopped for some porridge and about 20 minutes later, felt a sharp stabbing pain in my chest. It came from nowhere. Immediately after I felt very lightheaded and thought I was going to pass out. This obviously freaked me out and I’m not sure if the panic made things worse, or something was actually going on in my body. I told myself to keep calm but my throat tightened and I had to swallow to breathe.

I turned around and paddled slowly towards the shore. The chest pain came and went and I had to put my legs over the sides of my boat several times, when I thought I was going to go unconscious. I felt very vulnerable and scared.

I landed on the beach at Varazze and sat down in the shade. My sugar levels were fine, I’d eaten plenty and I wasn’t overheating. I stood up and still felt really faint, my vision not quite right. I lifted my boat up the beach a bit, but my heart started pounding and I didn’t dare move it further.

I walked to a doctors who told me to go to the hospital in Savona. I got a taxi there and was seen quickly. They’ve done a bunch of tests but can’t see anything. They phoned the police to get my boat safe. I hope the police actually do something and my stuff hasn’t been nicked.

My chest is still painful and I don’t feel right. I’m pretty sure I’m not imagining it. My health is obviously my priority so I won’t be getting back on the water until this is sorted. That will probably mean returning to the UK.

I should add that doctors found an abnormality in my heart a few years ago and I had an episode like this back in June, but a conclusion has never been reached. It is a frustrating position to be in because doctors are rightly risk-averse and will always play it safe, but something like this is hard to get answers about and so if I listen to them I could be sitting on the sofa for years instead of doing what I love.

On one hand, there’s no point even living if I’m wrapped in cotton wool, and I could get run over by a bus tomorrow anyway. Life is short, so go live it. This is how I feel when I listen to the doctors. On the other hand, I’d rather be alive on the sofa, and adventure isn’t worth risking your life for. This is how I feel in moments like today. Ultimately it comes down to calculating the risk, but that’s no easy business.

Not a happy blog, but thought I should be honest and keep everyone updated. I feel safe in the hospital and they want me to stay in tonight. I’ll see what they say tomorrow and make a plan from there.