A SOUTHAMPTON research ship has dramatically rescued a solo rower from the jaws of a hurricane as he attempted to cross the Atlantic.

RRS James Cook, a National Oceanography Centre (NOC) research vessel, plucked ex-SAS commando Peter Bray from ocean 920 miles west of the Isles of Scilly.

Mr Bray was hoping to beat the current 64-day world record for rowing solo across the Atlantic, but was forced to send out a mayday alarm as his boat Black Knight was battered by 20ft swells and 46mph winds.

Falmouth Coastguards, who helped coordinate the rescue, put out an emergency call for help from ships in the area.

The James Cook, which was carrying out scientific studies for NOC 110 miles away, responded to the call.

Master mariner Robin Plumley, who is based at NOC, said: “The master of the James Cook called me at about 11.20pm on Tuesday to advise the vessel had received a mayday relay message from the coastguard.

“The ship was requested to proceed to the site of the incident. This was an urgent request for immediate evacuation of rower Peter Bray on a passage from Newfoundland to the Scilly Islands.”

The Southampton crew found the stricken rowing boat yesterday morning and brought Bray safely aboard.

The 53-year-old is in good health and is expected to remain on the James Cook until it arrives in Falmouth on September 9.

The ship had left Southampton on August 1 on a six-week expedition to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the chain of underwater mountains that runs along the ocean floor, to study the animals that live in the very depths of the Atlantic.