A solo rower who was stranded at sea for three days has been rescued in Australia.

Aurimas Mockus, 44, was spotted by the Royal Australian Navy landing ship HMAS Choules in the Coral Sea.

The Lithuanian solo rower reportedly encountered a tropical cyclone while attempting to cross the Pacific Ocean from California on Monday, March 3.

He had been stuck in the Coral Sea, around 460 miles east of the Queensland state coastal city of Mackay.

Aurimas recalled that he had rowed toward the city in an enclosed boat nonstop from San Diego, headed for the Queensland capital, Brisbane.

Vice Admiral Justin Jones said that Aurimas had been taken by the warship and had left the rowboat in the sea. He then underwent a medical assessment.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said: 'Because of highly unfavourable sea conditions, Mr Mockus's boat could not be recovered except for two oars and some personal items.'

He began the 7,500-mile journey in October and was days away from Brisbane when he ran into the storm.

The rescue team said that Aurimas activated an emergency beacon on Friday after rowing into stormy seas and 50 mph winds generated by Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

This prompted the authority to send a plane that made radio contact with Mockus on March 1.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred formed in the Gulf of Carpentaria in March, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to parts of northern Australia before quickly dissipating.