Famous Russian TV reporter and traveller Yuri Senkevich died

Famous Russian TV reporter and traveller Yuri Senkevich died in Moscow today. For many years he was hosting the Club of Travellers TV programme which told Russians about far-away countries.

In addition to great popularity in Russia, Yuri Senkevich won international fame when Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl invited him to participate in the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean on board the papyrus raft in 1969. Russian doctor Senkevich (it was his first profession) became one of seven members of the international crew. After that, he took part in two other voyages with the famous Norwegian - across the Atlantic Ocean in 1970 and across the Indian Ocean in 1977.

Yuri Senkevich was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the person boasting the longest TV career. He hosted his TV programme from 1973.

Senkevich won the USSR State Prize for a series of research in Antarctica. In addition, he was awarded several Soviet, Russian and foreign orders and medals.

Yuri Senkevich, 66, died from a heart attack during preparations for the next issue of his programme, the reporter's colleagues told RIA Novosti.