AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- A seasoned British ocean rower
had to be plucked from violent waves off the coast of New Zealand
after his 26-foot vessel rolled several times.
Jim Shekhdar was attempting a non-stop solo journey from the southern
port of Bluff to Cape Town in South Africa, the London Sun reported
Tuesday.
A rescue ship plucked the veteran solo rower from the southern Pacific
30 hours after he called for help in severe weather.
The force broke both of his oars and washed his spares away. National
Search and Rescue Coordination Center spokesman Paul Harrison said
Shekhdar, 57, was "in a pretty reasonable state, though cold and wet
and with a lump on his head."
A New Zealand air force Orion P3 maritime surveillance airplane guided
the ship to the tiny vessel, using the emergency beacon signal to
locate it, Harrison said.
