Rower guided rescuers through fog by torch signals 15/6/14
Injured Atlantic rower Niall Iain Macdonald had to flash his torch to guide an US Coastguard cutter through very thick fog when they closed in on his location on Saturday.
Niall Iain was in excruciating pain and unable to move after badly hurting his back in a fall when a heavy wave smashed against his boat.
His face was also covered in blood from a cut to his head, said US coastguards.
The adventurer set off eight days ago in a bid to row 3,400 miles across the sea from America to Scotland.
The coastguard rescue vessel took the injured man on board and treated him on the voyage back to shore this morning (Sat).
Lieutenant James Provost, captain of the Sailfish said: “We were communicating with the rower by satellite phone and we had him vector us in by flashing a light.”
“When we first came upon him, he was in a lot of pain.
“He was very thankful that we were there to help him and he was very relieved we were there.”
A Coast Guard emergency paramedic went aboard the rowing vessel and assessed his condition before transferring him onto the cutter.
An US coastguard spokesman explained he was stranded about 60 miles off the coast.
The weather on scene at the time was approximately five foot high seas with 14 knot winds and restricted visibility due to fog.
He was met by awaiting emergency medical personnel ashore and taken for x-
His specialised row boat is still drifting at sea after being abandoned.