A rescue ship is expected to arrive in the Coral Sea off Australia’s east coast, where a Lithuanian rower has been caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Aurimas Mockus ran into trouble about 740 kilometres east of Mackay while attempting a 12,000 kilometre Pacific Ocean crossing from San Diego to Brisbane in his solo rowing boat.
Lithuanian man Aurimas Mockus, who got into trouble in the Coral Sea as Tropical Cyclone Alfred bore down.Credit: Aurimas Mockus
He activated his emergency beacon late on Friday as Tropical Cyclone Alfred sent strong winds and heavy seas his way.
A Cairns-based Challenger jet didn’t spot the tiny vessel on Saturday but managed to make contact with Mockus, who said he was tired.
Aurimas Mockus is facing rough seas due to Tropical Cyclone Alfred.Credit: Aurimas Mockus
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority shared images of the boat on Sunday and confirmed it had communicated with the adventurer via the rescue aircraft through an interpreter.
“Mr Mockus has reported he has no major injuries,” it said in a statement on Sunday afternoon.
HMAS Choules, a 16,000-tonne Royal Australian Navy landing ship, left Brisbane on Saturday to assist and was expected to arrive this morning.
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