THE wife of a millionaire retired banker, who will today again try to become a castaway on an uninhabited Scottish island in one last attempt to quit smoking, has pleaded with her husband not to go through with the “cruel” cold-turkey ordeal.
Elena Spice fears for her husband’s health.
Geoff Spice, having tried every other method, is to become a castaway on the 40-acre Sgarabhaigh, in the Sound of Harris.
He has decided to become the Outer Hebridean isle’s only resident for a month to give up his 30-a-day habit.
The strong winds and rough seas on Saturday stubbed out Mr Spice’s first bid to land.
Mr Spice was also beaten by the Sabbath on the religious Isle of Harris.
Because many islanders won’t work on the isle on Sunday, he will not make another attempt until today because there is no boatman available.
Before leaving Harris on Saturday, his wife admitted she had pleaded with him to abandon the idea.
The island has no home except for three derelict bothies so Mr Spice, 56, will have to camp.
He also has no heating. He is taking 180 cans of food, mainly fish and mixed beans, and 120 litres of bottled water.
Mr Spice, who weighs over 16 stone, also hopes to lose some weight as well as giving up the weed.
His 46-year-old Ukrainian-born wife, Elena, said as she bade him farewell and returned to the mainland she was worried about the risk to his health.
Mr Spice began smoking 43 years ago.
Mrs Spice, a paediatrician, and an occasional social smoker, said she had tried to talk her husband out of the self-inflicted ordeal.
“I think it is too cruel,” she said. “He thinks it’s the only solution. I worry about his health.
“I would like him to give up smoking – but this way? No.”
