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Sailor Stephen Jones rescued in Pacific off Tonga Sailors Stephen Jones and Tanya Davies rescued in Pacific off Tonga
(34 minutes later)
A Welsh sailor has been rescued in the Pacific Ocean after his yacht overturned in a storm.A Welsh sailor has been rescued in the Pacific Ocean after his yacht overturned in a storm.
Radio New Zealand said Stephen Jones, 52, from Llandudno Junction, and his partner Tanya Davies, 43, were safe. Stephen Jones, 52, from Llandudno Junction, and his partner Tanya Davies, 43, suffered head injuries.
The rescue was hampered by rough seas and the station said earlier it was unclear when boats would be able to carry out the operation. The rescue was hampered by rough seas and Radio New Zealand said earlier it was unclear when boats would be able to save the pair.
The yacht went over in high winds 700km (435 miles) south west of Tonga and 1,260km (783 miles) from New Zealand.The yacht went over in high winds 700km (435 miles) south west of Tonga and 1,260km (783 miles) from New Zealand.
Mr Jones's mother Elizabeth said the pair, who both had head injuries, originally feared the yacht would sink. The 38ft (11.6m) boat, called Windigo, righted itself and both Mr Jones and Ms Davies managed to stay on board.
The yacht righted itself and both were still on board. Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) said Mr Jones also suffered a back injury during the incident, but his and Ms Davies's injuries were not thought to be serious.
RCCNZ said the pair had been taken aboard the cargo ship Chengtu at 9am New Zealand time, where they were receiving a medical check up.
The Chengtu is now heading south to rendezvous with the navy vessel, HMNZS Otago.
Keith Allen of RCCNZ paid tribute to the efforts of the Chengtu, the yacht Adventure Bound, which had been in the area overnight, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).
Its pilots made three flights to the stricken yacht, while an aircraft from the French navy also made two trips from the Pacific island, Noumea.
Mr Allen said: "This is the outcome we have been working towards since the emergency beacon was activated on Wednesday afternoon.
Emergency message
"It is the result of an excellent coordinated effort involving the RNZAF, which provided a link for the two people on the Windigo when there was no other means of contact, and the Navy, and I would also like to express my appreciation to the captain of the Chengtu and the crew of the Adventure Bound for their efforts."
Rescue agencies in New Zealand received an emergency message from the yacht on Wednesday.Rescue agencies in New Zealand received an emergency message from the yacht on Wednesday.
Aircraft from New Zealand and the French navy spotted the yacht and made radio contact with the pair. Speaking before the rescue, Mr Jones's mother Elizabeth said the pair originally feared the yacht would sink.
Earlier, Mr Jones's mother, who has spoken to the New Zealand coastguard, said her son and Ms Davies, from New Zealand, were hoping to ride the storm out while they wait to be rescued. She spoke to the New Zealand coastguard and said her son and Ms Davies, from Auckland, were hoping to ride the storm out while they waited to be rescued.
"They were in touch with the coastguards and they kept ringing each other backwards and forwards so since then they've been looking for them," she said.
"They didn't find them until last night [Wednesday] but they can't go near them because of the weather."
She said a large swell had overturned the boat during a storm.She said a large swell had overturned the boat during a storm.
"It's gone back up again but it has taken water on board as well," she said."It's gone back up again but it has taken water on board as well," she said.
"The first thing we heard was they were expecting it to go down and they had locked themselves in a cabin."The first thing we heard was they were expecting it to go down and they had locked themselves in a cabin.
"They're both injured because they've been thrown. The storm is 75km an hour with the wind, and the waves are 10m high so they're in the middle of that."They're both injured because they've been thrown. The storm is 75km an hour with the wind, and the waves are 10m high so they're in the middle of that.
"They've been in distress for nearly two days now.""They've been in distress for nearly two days now."
She was told about the incident by her son-in-law Dave Lloyd early on Wednesday morning.
Mr Jones, an experienced yachtsman who has been sailing for over 25 years, and Ms Davies, whose parents are from south Wales, were travelling from Tonga to New Zealand.Mr Jones, an experienced yachtsman who has been sailing for over 25 years, and Ms Davies, whose parents are from south Wales, were travelling from Tonga to New Zealand.
He has been based in Australia for many years but has been living on the yacht for about two-and-a-half years.He has been based in Australia for many years but has been living on the yacht for about two-and-a-half years.
Mr Lloyd said he felt more confident now that the pair would be safely rescued.
"The plan is at first light, or at the safest earliest opportunity, they're going to try to transfer them to another yacht," he said.
"A big tanker is due to arrive there soon and will be used as a barrier to stop the swell and assist if required.
"There's a New Zealand navy vessel en route and they will be transferred straight away to this ship for treatment."
Search and rescue mission co-ordinator Keith Allen said sea conditions were becoming less severe but remained rough.
"It will be extremely uncomfortable and the people aboard are tired, but the yacht is still afloat so the correct approach is to remain onboard," he said.