Irish rowers rescued from liferaft in mid-Atlantic

Two Irish sportsmen have been rescued from a liferaft after their boat capsized midway through the Atlantic Rowing Race yesterday.

Gearóid Towey and Ciaran Lewis were on the 40th day of the gruelling challenge when their craft capsized in rough seas shortly after 5.30pm yesterday.

The US Coastguard in Virginia mounted a rescue operation after it received a distress signal from the pair, who were picked up around four hours later by a Spanish-registered tanker.

The annual Atlantic Rowing Challenge sees competitors race unaided from the Canaries to the Caribbean.

The Irish duo were 2,500 miles off the coast of Bermuda when their seven-metre vessel capsized.

They are currently heading for Spain on board the tanker which rescued them and have been in touch with their families and support team to say they are unharmed and in good spirits.