British woman rowing across Pacific solo rescued after typhoon
Sarah Outen's blog said she was hit by a storm during her attempted journey around the world, and that her boat rolled over and was damaged.
In this photo released by Japan Coast Guard, British adventurer Sarah Outen, second from right, is escorted by Japan coast guard personnel on board a patrol boat PLH-05 Zao after she was rescued in the Pacific Ocean off northeastern coast of Japan, on May 8.
Japan Coast Guard/AP
TOKYO
The Japanese聽coast聽guard聽on Friday rescued a British adventurer who hit a storm while rowing solo across the Pacific. Another Briton on a similar trek was still awaiting rescue.
Sarah Outen's blog said she was hit by a storm during her attempted journey around the world, and that her boat rolled over and was damaged.
On Friday, she tweeted: "Hooray 4 Japanese always being early!" That was followed by an announcement that she was safe on the rescue ship. The聽coast聽guard聽confirmed her rescue late Friday afternoon, and said she was walking on her own and appeared relatively healthy.
She had signaled for help on Thursday morning 900 kilometers (560 miles) off聽Japan's聽northeastern聽coast, saying there was a hole in her boat and that water was seeping in, according to the聽coast聽guard.
Another聽coast聽guard聽vessel was headed to rescue Charlie Martell, who had been on a separate solo trek when he got caught up in the same storm. His boat, Blossom, was 1,100 kilometers (680 miles) off the northeasterncoast聽of聽Japan, the聽coast聽guard聽said.
Outen embarked on her planned 2 1/2-year journey in April 2011. She is trying to circle the globe using only human power, cycling, rowing and kayaking more than 32,000 kilometers (20,000 miles).
Martell said on his website that he planned to row "solo and unsupported" across the Pacific. The聽coast聽guard'sship was expected to reach Martell's boat Saturday.
Outen's boat was closer than Martell's, but she likely won't return to shore until Saturday, the聽coast聽guardsaid.