Lithuanian Rower Rescued by Australian Navy After Encountering Cyclone in Pacific Crossing Attempt

Aurimas Mockus, a 44-year-old Lithuanian adventurer, embarked on a solo rowing journey across the Pacific Ocean in October 2024. His ambitious goal was to row 12,000 kilometers from San Diego to Brisbane. However, his voyage took a dramatic turn when he encountered Tropical Cyclone Alfred, a category one storm with winds gusting up to 130 kilometers per hour.

Mockus was 740 kilometers off the coast of Mackay in Central Queensland when he found himself in the path of the cyclone. His vessel, battered by heavy seas and strong winds, sent out distress signals on Friday night. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) immediately initiated a search and rescue operation.

The AMSA tasked the Cairns-based Challenger search and rescue aircraft to locate Mockus. However, initial attempts were unsuccessful due to the challenging weather conditions. The Coral Sea remained under the influence of the cyclone, with winds up to 100 kilometers per hour.

Fortunately, the weather conditions improved on Monday morning, allowing the Australian Navy ship HMAS Choules to locate and rescue Mockus. He was safely brought on board the ship and underwent a medical assessment. Mockus's shore team confirmed that he had not sustained any serious injuries.

Mockus was just days away from reaching his destination when he encountered the cyclone. He had been rowing an impressive 70 nautical miles per day and was determined to join the short list of ocean rowers who have successfully completed the Pacific crossing solo nonstop. The first person to achieve this feat was Brit Peter Bird in 1983, followed by John Beeden in 2015 and Australian Michelle Lee in 2023.