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An Australian cruise ship took a detour to mount a rescue effort for Tom Robinson, a 24-year-old Australian man who was attempting to row across the Pacific. Late last Wednesday evening while on the final leg of his 15-month journey, the endurance rower was sitting in his rowboat when a “rogue wave came out of nowhere” and capsized his vessel near the island nation of Vanuatu in the South Pacific.
Robinson quickly escaped, climbed up on the overturned boat, and used an emergency beacon to send out a distress signal. He was soon spotted by a French Navy aircraft, who forwarded his location to the nearest ship, P&O Cruises’ Pacific Explorer. The cruise ship took its 2-thousand passengers on a 124-mile detour to pick up the stranded sailor, reaching him early the next morning.
Grateful for the rescue, Robinson expressed his appreciation to the Pacific Explorer staff and also his regret for causing an inconvenience to the passengers on their vacations. He was soon reunited with his relieved family in Brisbane. Robinson says he may write a book about his experience and hopes to be able to eventually complete his Pacific journey, a dream he’s had since he was 14.
Source: PEOPLE