Ambrogio Fogar (; 13 August 1941 – 24 August 2005) was an Italian sailor, writer, rally driver and all-round adventurer and television presenter. He was a Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, gold medal for athletic value, gold medal for marine value, gold medal to memory and other. Biography His exploits included a number of successful long-distance sailing feats, such as becoming the first Italian to sail single-handedly from east to west around the world, starting and ending his journey in Castiglione della Pescaia, Tuscany. In 1978, after being capsized by orcas, he survived more than ten weeks in a life raft in the South Atlantic along with a friend, journalist Mauro Mancini, who died of pneumonia two days after the two were rescued. Another venture was Fogar's solo sled expedition to the North Pole. He competed several times in the Dakar Rally and in the Rallye des Pharaons. In 1992, Fogar was paralyzed from the neck down following a jeep accident while rallying in Turkmenistan. This did not end his adventurous spirit, and in 1997, in a wheelchair, he competed in a round-Italy yacht race. He died in 2005 of a heart attack and is buried at the Monumental Cemetery of Milan, Italy. Personal life Fogar was the father of Rachele and Francesca Fogar. Rachele Fogar was born in Milan on 31 July 1991 and Francesca Fogar was born in Tradate on 17 November 1975. Television Jonathan - Dimensione avventura (Canale 5, 1984–1986; Italia 1, 1986–1991) Antologia di Jonathan (Canale 5, 1984–1986; Italia 1, 1986–1991) Parliamone - talk of Buongiorno Italia (Canale 5, 1987–1988) Campo base - Il mondo dell'avventura (TV Koper-Capodistria/Canale 5, 1989–1991; TELE+2, 1990–1991) Speciale campo base (TV Koper-Capodistria/Canale 5, 1989–1991; TELE+2, 1990–1991) Radio documentary Poli Mirabilia - La marcia sul pack e altre meraviglie (Rai Radio 1, 1984) Documentary Ambrogio Fogar - il viaggio (Italia 1, 1998) Ambrogio Fogar, l'ultimo eroe (Rete 4, 2005) Books See also List of people who disappeared mysteriously at sea Rachele Fogar References External links 1941 births 1970s missing person cases 2005 deaths 20th-century Italian writers 21st-century Italian writers Burials at the Cimitero Monumentale di Milano Circumnavigators of the globe Commanders of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic Formerly missing people Italian explorers Italian male sailors (sport) Italian sailors Italian television presenters People with tetraplegia Single-handed circumnavigating sailors Single-handed sailors Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore