A LOST Canadian sailor making his way across the Atlantic landed safely at the Aran Islands today.

Erkan Gursoy, 67, had to be escorted to Inis Mor by an RNLI lifeboat after being tracked by the coast guard for more than two weeks.

He is said to be fit and well but his homemade 35ft vessel Altan Girl had suffered some minor steering damage and its communications system was not working properly.

Mr Gursoy had been making little progress across the Atlantic in recent days after being caught up in Hurricane Gonzalo and gale force winds on board his homemade 35ft vessel.

He had originally aimed to land at Dingle on his way to Turkey but came to Inis More after the RNLI made contact with him yesterday (SUNDAY).

“The vessel was being tracked by the Coast Guard who lost contact with him this morning,” said an RNLI spokesperson.

“They asked the RNLI to go out and check on him and he was then escorted in to Kilronan Harbour,” she added.

He did not need any assistance from the RNLI crew and he was able to come in to Kilronan under his own steam.

In July, the lone sailor had to be rescued by the US Coast Guard earlier this year after he became trapped in ice 40 miles off Barrow, Alaska.

He was stuck in the ice for more 10 days with only polar bears for company while he waited for an ice-breaker to come and free him.

Fearing for his life, the boat builder and former teacher banged on a empty barrel to discourage the animals from getting too close to him.

Online Editors