A rescue operation was continuing 230 miles off Valencia Island early this morning after a man rowing across the Atlantic sent a distress signal.
Valencia coastguard said an RAF Nimrod aircraft had located a flashing light at the site of the distress signal and lowered a lifeboat, but nothing had yet bee found.
The distress signal was picked up at 9.00 p.m. and an RAF Nimrod flew from Kinloss, Scotland, to the location of the signal, sent by a 20-foot boat, the US-registered Lun.
Weather conditions in the area of the distress signal were "exceptionally bad for a 20-foot boat" with heavy winds and high seas, said the coastguard.
A RAF Sea King helicopter was preparing to visit the scene early this morning.
