Australian warship rescues British rowers in middle of Indian Ocean

SYDNEY (AFP) Jun 05, 2003
An Australian warship early Thursday rescued two Britons who were stranded in high seas 45 days into a bid to row across the Indian Ocean, the Australian navy said.

The frigate HMAS Newcastle picked up Mike Noel-Smith, 45, and Rob Abernethy, 31, about 2,500 kilometers (1,500 miles) from the west Australian coast after they abandoned their bid to row the 6,700 kilometers (4,400 miles) from Australia to Reunion Island.

Noel-Smith was knocked unconscious and received a broken nose when he smashed against the side of their boat during a storm over the weekend, forcing the pair to issue a Mayday call for help.

A navy spokeswoman said the two were plucked from the middle of the Indian Ocean overnight.

"The rowers are well, one of the two is being looked after by HMAS Newcastle doctors," she said.

Abernethy said after the rescue that he and Noel-Smith at one point feared they would not be rescued in time.

"It's lucky we are able to sit here on the Newcastle. At one stage I thought we might not make it," he said.

"The rescue was a bit scary in as much as everything was happening in the pitch black in rough seas.

"But the Australian crew were superb throughout. We have been made to feel tremendously welcome onboard," he said.

Noel-Smith said he was feeling better after suffering terrible headaches and nausea following the weekend accident.

"I feel better now than I have since the accident happened, but obviously I want to know what the damage is," Noel-Smith said.

"I'm just waiting to see whether they tell me my brain is still intact."

Noel-Smith and Abernethy collapsed when they got on board the Newcastle, unable to walk after 45 days at sea.

"Our land legs were completely shot. It was a bit farcical really," Abernethy told Britain's Press Association.

The former Army officers were thrown provisions earlier today by an oil tanker which was diverted to check on their condition.

Noel-Smith's wife Elizabeth issued a huge thank you to the Australian navy but insisted her husband and Abernethy were not foolhardy.

She said she would fly to Perth in Western Australia Friday to be reunited with her husband.

Abernethy said the pair were devastated they had to abandon ship.

"The disappointment is something we share but Mike's injuries plus the extensive damage to the boat caused by the appalling weather conditions simply knocked us out of contention," he said.

Noel-Smith and Abernethy had aimed to raise some 600,000 dollarsfor the children's charity Sparks.

WAR.WIRE