Aurimas Mockus, an adventurer mere days away from completing his solo row from the US to Australia, was rescued by a warship after being trapped in a tropical cyclone.

Mockus, a 44-year-old Lithuanian, was nearing the end of his 7,500-mile Pacific Ocean journey, which he began in October in a closed-off boat.

Due to stormy seas and 50mph winds caused by Tropical Cyclone Alfred, he spent three days stranded in the Coral Sea, approximately 460 miles east of Queensland’s coast.

He was en route from San Diego, California, to Brisbane, the capital of Queensland.

Rescued on Monday, Mockus is now aboard the Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Choules and is undergoing a medical evaluation.

He had activated his emergency beacon on Friday following the stormy conditions, as reported by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

Officials stated that a plane was dispatched and made radio contact with Mockus on Saturday, noting his exhaustion.

The HMAS Choules is transporting Mockus south to Sydney, beyond Brisbane.

The cyclone was situated 280 miles east of Brisbane on Monday and is expected to approach the Australian coast by Thursday or Friday.

Mockus aimed to join the select group of rowers who have successfully crossed the Pacific Ocean alone.

British adventurer Peter Bird is arguably the first to achieve this feat back in 1983, launching from San Francisco.

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Mockus was towed for the last 30 miles to land, yet is still recognized as having rowed close enough to Australia to signify the crossing.

However, some argue that British adventurer John Beeden was the first individual to row solo and non-stop across the Pacific in 2015, traveling from San Francisco to Cairns, Australia.

Australian Michelle Lee became the first woman to accomplish the crossing in 2023, rowing from Ensenada, Mexico, to Port Douglas, Queensland.