Russian balloonist more than halfway to circling globe

A 65-year-old Russian adventurer was battling sleep deprivation, freezing temperatures and ice in his oxygen mask but was ahead of schedule for his record attempt to fly solo in a balloon around the world nonstop, his son said on Wednesday.

Fedor Konyukhov has drifted more than halfway around the world since he lifted off from Northam in Western Australia state on July 12 in a carbon box 2 meters high, 2 meters long and 1.8 meters wide suspended from a 56-meter-tall helium and hot-air balloon.

Oscar Konyukhov, who heads the support team based at Northam, said his father was on track to return to Earth somewhere in Australia on Sunday - 12 days after he started. The previous record of 13 days and eight hours was set by adventurer Steve Fossett of the United States, in 2002.