A man hit by a hurricane was ridden by a hurricane and was rescued by an Australian warship for 3 days after being stranded by an Australian warship
An Australian warship rescued the Lithuanian solo rower on Monday, who encountered a tropical cyclone while trying to cross the Pacific from California.
Justin Jones said in a statement that the Aurimas Mockus was on a medical assessment on the Royal Australian Navy landing ship HMAS Choules.
“Due to the very unfavorable marine conditions, Mr. Mox’s ship cannot be recovered except for two oars and some personal belongings,” said the Australian Maritime Safety Agency, which coordinated the rescue.
Authorities released a video of the operation, which showed a rescue simulation on a naval ship, and then carried him onto a warship.
CPOIS Helen Frank / AP
The 44-year-old adventurer was trapped in the Coral Sea for three days 460 miles east of Mackay, a coastal city in Queensland. He rowed from a closed boat in San Diego to Brisbane, the capital of Queensland.
He started his 7,500-mile journey since October, and when he encountered a storm he was a few days away from Brisbane, which is expected to cross the Australian coast within a few days.
Brisbane is 500 miles south of Mackay.
Mockus activated an emergency lighthouse and 50 mph winds on Friday while rowing in tropical cyclone Alfred, the Rescue Administration said.
Authorities sent a plane to radio contact Mockus on Saturday. Authorities say Mockus reported he was “fatigue”.
The Navy said the warship brought Mockus South to Sydney, South Wales, outside Brisbane.
“This successful outcome highlights the importance of always carrying an emergency beacon, which leads to a quick response to emergencies,” the Australian Maritime Security Agency said in a statement.
CPOIS Helen Frank / AP
Authorities say the hurricane continues to track the south, 280 miles east of Brisbane on Monday.
The cyclone is expected to turn west on Thursday or Friday and cross the Australian coast.
In the past, rowing boats have crossed the Pacific Ocean
Mockus tried to be one of the few rowers who crossed the Pacific Ocean alone without stopping.
It can be said that British Brit Peter Bird became the first in 1983. But he is believed to be close enough to Australia to make a transit.
Compatriot Brit John Beeden rowed from San Francisco to Cairns, Queensland in 2015, and some believe it was the first successful crossing.
Australian Michelle Lee becomes the first woman to row from Mexico’s Ensenada to Port Douglas in 2023. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, she stayed at sea for 237 days.
Another Australian, Tom Robinson, tried to be the smallest person in the Cross-Pacific Ocean in 2022, despite resting in the Cook Islands. He set out from Peru and stayed at sea for 265 days before being rescued from Vanuatu in 2023.
The waves bound the 24-year-old’s ship, leaving him naked in the hull for 14 hours, and were rescued by a cruise ship that took him to circumnavigate for 124 miles and detours.
