Missing rowers found off Scilly

Four transatlantic rowers who went missing nearly two months ago have been discovered 150 miles off the Isles of Scilly.

The men were rowing from New York to Falmouth when their satellite link was lost on July 9.

But their families’ minds were finally at rest last week when the boat was spotted by Naval ship HMS Mersey.

A team from the Portsmouth-based vessel had been sent to check up on the four men. They were competing in the Shepherd Ocean Fours Rowing Race and are one of four teams who set off on the 2,863-nautical mile trip on June 10 .

‘I think they were a bit shocked to see us coming up to them but when we found out their satellite link had failed we were able to send messages back to their shore team and families for them,’ Lieutenant Commander Ian Lynn, HMS Mersey’s commanding officer, told a Portsmouth newspaper.

Royal Engineers Major Pete Rowlands, Captain Mark Waterson, Staff Sergeant Ben Fouracre and Lance Corporal Charlie Martell have so far raised ?140,000 for the Meningitis Trust.