There are definitely easier, safer and more convenient ways to get to a meeting, but kudos to the guy who decided to paddleboard across the Hudson River on Thursday - wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase, no less. Commuters on a New York ferry spotted the man and filmed the following clip:
It turns out that 32-year-old Scott Holt, a self-described struggling comedian, was travelling from across the river in New Jersey to a meeting in Manhattan with a potential manager and didn't want to pay the toll, so decided to paddleboard across instead. As you do.
Advert
You have to hand it to him - as ridiculous a stunt as it was, it's impressive. He made it across the river in 30 minutes, navigating his way through choppy water and blustery winds, and - despite a run-in with police - got to his meeting on time.
Speaking to the New York Post, Holt said: "I'm a starving artist, so I had the board and just kind of popped on and went.
"I didn't really know where I was going. I was just aiming in that direction. I was trying to get towards a spot I could get on and off quickly, and then the current started to pick up."
Advert
Given that paddleboarding is pretty taxing anyway, and presumably even more difficult when you've got a briefcase over your shoulder, Holt didn't take any safety precautions - which could have had dire consequences. Bloody hell, mate.
"I stupidly didn't bring a leash or a lifejacket, so if a [wave] took the board, then I just would've been stuck out there drowning in a suit," he said. "That's the worst way to drown - dressed up."
Eventually, he made it to a closed-down water taxi dock in NYC, where a police officer was waiting for him.
"He was just more confused than anything," Holt said. "He didn't know what to do with me. I was like, 'Hey man, do you want me to go somewhere else? I don't want to come out here and be arrested.'"
Advert
Holt wasn't arrested, although an employee from New York Waterways, who run the ferry service, wasn't very impressed.
Advert
"He was like, 'Are you trying to fucking die today?'" said Holt. Given that the funnyman posted 'before and after' pictures to his Instagram account, it's more likely that he was just looking for a bit of attention.
New York is a cut-throat place, after all, and you have to find some way to stand out from the crowd. Let's see if this publicity stunt works for him.
Source: The New York Post
Featured Image Credit: Storyful