2nd UK rower plucked from Pacific

A second British rower has been rescued from the Pacific Ocean after getting into difficulties during an attempt to row solo from Japan to America.

Charlie Martell, a Royal Engineer Commando serving with the Territorial Army, sent out a mayday call on Thursday morning after his boat was damaged by 50ft seas during a tropical storm.

He was plucked from the ocean about 700 miles off the coast of Japan at 9pm yesterday by a merchant vessel.

The MV Last Tycoon was on its way to Canada when it was alerted to Lt Marshall's situation by the Japanese coastguard.

Lt Martell, 41, from Cirencester in Gloucestershire, was able to speak to friends at home from the ship's bridge to tell them he was uninjured but exhausted.

Adrian Bell, a member of his support crew, said: "He was tired on being picked up, obviously, from having spent 36 hours or so in that emergency state without power on board.

"But he is uninjured and very grateful to be picked up and pleased to be alive."

Lt Martell was the second British rower to be rescued from the Pacific Ocean yesterday.

Earlier Sarah Outen, 26, was picked up by the Japanese coastguard after her boat capsized and began taking on water when it was holed.

She had set off in April 2011 on a two-and-a-half year journey to circle the globe using only human power, cycling, rowing and kayaking more than 20,000 miles.