Former Australian spy Alisdair Putt dies after embarking on charity rowing race

A former Australian spy has died of a suspected heart attack while competing in a gruelling rowing race.

Alisdair Putt was participating in the World’s Toughest Row to raise money for returning veterans and Indigenous women in the Kimberley region.

The 62-year-old, who lived in Mt Hawthorn, was three weeks into the 4800km rowing race across the Atlantic when he suffered what is believed to be a cardiac-related event while on deck, a race spokesman said.

“It is with heartfelt sadness that we must convey the news of the death of Alisdair Putt – skipper of the four-person team, Aussie Old Salts,” World’s Toughest Row confirmed in a statement.

“Despite the rest of the crew’s continuous efforts, resuscitation was not successful.

“We are in constant contact with the crew, all emergency contacts, as well as the Marine Rescue Coordination Centres involved, and will continue to support all involved.

“The crew are now safely onboard a vessel heading for land.”

Mr Putt had been working as a war crimes investigator for the UN in Rwanda prior to the start of the race, having earlier run his own law firm in Perth.

The father, married to wife Kathy, had previously been a public prosecutor and an investigator for the International Criminal Court, as well as a war crimes investigator in the Balkans in the late 1990s

His rowing team had been raising funds for the Veterans Transition Centre, a local charity in Western Australia assisting Australian veterans transitioning to civilian life.

They were also said to be raising money for a domestic violence shelter in the remote Kimberley region of north-west WA.

The four-man team — made up of Stuart Moore, Andreas Koenig, Alastair Horton and Mr Putt — were planning to split their shifts on a constant rolling basis.

Mr Putt was remembered as a “gentleman and man with spirit and humour” by those who knew him.

“Alisdair was such a character — spent a week with him on Roxy and loved it. Such a shock,” professional rower and yacht master Lara Vafiadis wrote on social media.

“Was fortunate enough to meet Alisdair at the start in La Gomera, he was going to sleep on the rowing boat the night before they set off before I offered him my spare room … what a truly kind soul and the spirit of an adventurer,” another person wrote.

The 37 other teams in the event have continued on despite the “profound impact” of the tragedy.

The teams are concentrated around the centre of the race, led by the HMS Oardacious.