A pensioner who lives “off grid” in a cabin he built in a remote forest in the Scottish Highlands has been airlifted to hospital after his distress signal was picked up thousands of miles away in Texas.

The man, known locally simply as Ken, is in his 70s and is thought to have lived around 13 miles east of Fort William, for more than 25 years.

Rescuers said he “saved his life” by activating a personal satellite tracker beacon on Sunday, after becoming unwell.

The signal was picked up in Houston, at a centre that monitors satellite signals from locator beacons, before being relayed to the UK Coastguard.

A Coastguard search and rescue helicopter was unable to reach him because of the thick woodland in the area, but flew members of the Lochaber Mountain Rescue team to the scene.

John Stevenson, the team leader, said: "The helicopter winchman ascertained that the chap was unwell and needed to be taken to hospital. He has lived off grid in that area for quite some time.

"We got a call around 9pm to take seven of us by helicopter to as close as the aircraft could land. We then reached the man's dwelling and took him by stretcher to the helicopter. It was a very well co-ordinated rescue."