Russian balloonist hopes to circumnavigate globe on Saturday

In this Tuesday, July 12, 2016 photo released Wednesday, July 20, 2016 by Morton, Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov floats at more than 6,000 meters (20,000 feet) above an area close to Northam in Western Australia state in his helium and hot-air balloon as he makes a record attempt to fly solo in a balloon around the world nonstop. Konyukhov, 65, was battling sleep deprivation, freezing temperatures and ice in his oxygen mask as he nears the end of his record attempt to fly solo around the world nonstop, his son said on Wednesday July 20, 2016. AP

CANBERRA, Australia — The son of a 65-year-old Russian adventurer says his father is on the brink of setting a record for flying solo in a balloon around the world nonstop and is expected to land in Australia on Saturday.

Oscar Konyukhov said on Friday that Fedor Konyukhov hopes to land in the wheat fields near Northam in Western Australia state, shaving two days off the current record of 13 days and eight hours set by American businessman Steve Fossett in 2002.

Oscar heads the support team based at Northam. He says his father had endured the worst of the journey in recent days as he was blown south into the Antarctic Circle in the winter gloom where temperatures outside the gondola dropped to minus 50 degrees Celsius (minus 58 degrees Fahrenheit).

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