A Frenchman attempting to row across the Atlantic has called his mother for help as he sat atop his capsized boat in rough waters 160 kilometres off the US coast.
Emmanuel Coindre, who set off for France from the coast of Massachusetts last week, capsized early on Monday due to inclement weather.
The head of the Ocean Rowing Society, Kenneth Crutchlow, says Mr Coindre used a satellite phone to call for help as the boat took in water.
"After five hours [trying to right the boat] he phoned his mother in France who called the French coast guard who called the US coast guard," Mr Crutchlow said.
The US coast guard rescued him and brought him ashore.
"We are recovering from hours of anguish since yesterday," Sylviane Coindre, the rower's mother, said in an e-mail. "As parents we never lost hope."
Mr Coindre has crossed the Atlantic from east to west twice and last year became one of only a handful to row across the ocean the other way.
"Last year he landed in a pretty bad storm," Mr Crutchlow said. "Frankly he got in just in time."
He completed the crossing in 87 days, failing to beat countryman Gerard D'Aboville's record 72-day journey.
He set out last week for another crack at the record.
His plans to break the record this year and become the first to cross the Atlantic alone three times seem lost as his boat is now missing at sea.
Mr Coindre spent yesterday on a fishing vessel searching for his craft.
"It's very unlikely he will find it," Mr Crutchlow said. "I'm not saying it's impossible but the only way they're going to find that boat is by sheer luck."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s913105.htm
Of all people I'd call straight up in a situation like the above - my mom would not be on my short list.