Solo British rower and Independent blogger Sarah Outen rescued in stormy seas off Japan

Sarah Outen being rescued by Japanese coastguards about 500 miles east off the Japanese northeastern coast (EPA)

The Japanese coast guard has rescued a British adventurer who hit a storm while rowing solo across the Pacific.

Sarah Outen, who blogs for Independent.co.uk, has been picked up but fellow Briton Charlie Martell, who is on a similar trek, is still awaiting rescue.

Outen's personal blog said she was hit by a storm during her attempted journey around the world, and that her boat rolled over and was damaged.

Today, she used social media website Twitter to say: "Hooray 4 Japanese always being early!"

That was followed by an announcement that she was safe on the rescue ship. The coast guard confirmed her rescue and said she was walking on her own and appeared relatively healthy.

She had signalled for help yesterday morning 560 miles off Japan's northeastern coast, saying there was a hole in her boat and water was seeping in, according to the coast guard.

Another coast guard vessel was headed to rescue Martell, who had been on a separate solo trek when he got caught up in the same storm.

His boat, Blossom, was 680 miles off the northeastern coast of Japan, the coast guard said.

Outen embarked on her planned two and a half year journey in April 2011. She is trying to circle the globe using only human power, cycling, rowing and kayaking more than 20,000 miles.

Martell said on his website that he planned to row "solo and unsupported" across the Pacific. The coast guard's ship is expected to reach Martell's boat tomorrow.

Outen's boat was closer than Martell's, but she will probably not return to shore until tomorrow, the coast guard said.

Click here to read Sarah's blog for The Independent