An air and sea search is continuing for a lone transatlantic rower who is in difficulties 200 miles off the West Coast. The man is a 62-year-old retired American doctor, Nenead Belic, who set off to row to Europe more than four months ago. He sent an emergency satellite signal last night when his wooden-hulled craft got into trouble in severe weather conditions. The search is being co-ordinated by an RAF Nimrod reconnaissance plane and is being assisted by Valentia coastguard.
Rescue services this morning recovered the radio beacon from which the doctor made the SOS call late last night. British and Irish helicopters are at the scene searching for the missing man, with no success in the high seas.
Mr Belic had set out from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in early May and was recently was given food by a passing crew. He told them he was running behind his planned schedule. The rescue operation began in the early hours with poor weather conditions and gale force winds.
No radio communication has been made by Mr Belic since his first emergency call. A flashing light on the radio beacon helped them recover it and a dingy has been dropped into the water. Mr Belic is a member of the Ocean Rowing Society based in London and his home is in Wichita, Kansas, in the US.
