Man rowing solo across Pacific rescued from cyclone days out from completing feat

An adventurer who was conscionable days from completing a solo enactment from the US to Australia has been rescued by a warship aft getting caught successful a tropical cyclone.

Aurimas Mockus was successful the last stages of his 7,500-mile voyage crossed the Pacific Ocean, which helium started successful an enclosed vessel successful October.

After hitting stormy seas and 50mph winds generated by Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the Lithuanian 44-year-old became stranded for 3 days successful the Coral Sea astir 460 miles eastbound of the Queensland coast.

He had been rowing from San Diego successful California to the Queensland superior of Brisbane.

Mr Mockus was taken aboard the Royal Australian Navy's HMAS Choules connected Monday and was being medically assessed.

He activated an exigency beacon connected Friday aft hitting the stormy conditions, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said.

Officials said a level was sent and made vigor interaction with Mr Mockus connected Saturday, adding helium was "fatigued".

The warship is taking Mr Mockus southbound beyond Brisbane to Sydney, the navy said.

The cyclone was 280 miles eastbound of Brisbane connected Monday and is forecast to transverse the Australian seashore connected Thursday oregon Friday.

Mr Mockus was attempting to go 1 of the fewer rowers who person crossed the Pacific unsocial and without stopping.

Briton Peter Bird arguably became the archetypal successful 1983 aft mounting disconnected from San Francisco.

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He was towed the last 30 miles to the mainland, but is considered to person rowed adjacent capable to Australia to person made the crossing.

However, immoderate judge British adventurer John Beeden was the archetypal to enactment solo and non-stop crossed the Pacific Ocean erstwhile helium travelled from San Francisco to the Queensland metropolis of Cairns successful 2015.

Australian Michelle Lee became the archetypal pistillate to marque the crossing successful 2023, rowing from Ensenada successful Mexico to Queensland's Port Douglas.