An ultra-marathon runner trying to travel 1,000 miles in a giant hamster wheel has washed up 30 miles in the wrong direction.

Ray 'Reza' Baluchi, 49, has been jogging on water in various floating contraptions for years before attempting to make the mammoth trip north along America's east coast from Florida to New York.

Running in the name of charity, Reza's big dreams of using his own feet to power him across the Atlantic Ocean have come to a crushing early end, at least for now.

According to his Facebook page, the "world-class athlete" was pushed into heavy surf by locals in St Augustine only for him to roll onto land a lot sooner than hoped, BBCNews reports.

Mr Baluchi encountered "complications that brought him back to shore", and was "safe with no injuries", Flagler County Sheriff's Office said.

It added that the US Coast Guard (USCG) came to "ensure the vessel [and] occupant are USCG compliant for their safety moving forward".

Reza has previously set out on water inside inflatable zorb ball-style bubbles but snaps taken by the sheriff's office reveal his latest hydropod to be more of a cylindrical cage flanked with floats on either side.

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Aside from the thrill of a jaw-dropping adventure, Reza says he hopes it will help launch a project to inspire the most vulnerable in society.

His Facebook page wrote on Sunday: "Today is the big day Reza has been dreaming of for the past year! Just a little bit on the purpose of this trip.

"Reza, a world-class athlete has tried again and again to reach his goals, whether it's running on land or the ocean to raise not only money for his projects but also awareness to the plight of the homeless."

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A fundraiser set up by the Florida man had raised $55 (£40) of its $20,000 (£14.4k) target on Tuesday afternoon.

In its description Reza outlines what he plans to do with donations, it says: "Please support Reza's run so that he may raise the funds needed to start his training camp for the homeless!

"It's a new and innovative model in helping to inspire others to overcome obstacles, to never give up and to give them hope to achieve the impossible-to rise up from addictions, joblessness and hopelessness to find a new life on the other side."

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In 2014 Mr Baluchi was rescued after getting into trouble aboard a different hydropod near St Augustine before needing help again two years later off the coast of Jupiter in Florida.

He told local news channel Fox 35: "I will show people anything you want to do, do it. Don't listen to anyone. Chase your dreams."

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