Adventurer aiming to break record for longest stay on remote rock being rescued by Coastguard

A British adventurer attempting to break the world record for the longest stay on a remote rock has been by the Coastguard after deteriorating weather forced him to call off his challenge.

Chris “Cam” Cameron has spent a month on Rockall, an uninhabited rock in the North Atlantic Ocean, and was hoping to break the current record of 45 days while raising funds for armed forces charities.

But Mr Cameron, a teacher, called for help 32 days into the challenge due to "declining weather conditions".

Much of his equipment was destroyed by wind and waves, and he was almost swept away at several points throughout the night.

He was brought to safety by coastguards before 6pm and is said to be in “good hands”.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said it sent a search and rescue helicopter from Stornoway after receiving the distress call at 8.55am on Wednesday.A fixed wing aircraft was also sent to support the rescue from Rockall, an isolated granite islet that the UK has claimed sovereignty over since 1955.

It stands about 70ft above sea level and is around 300ft in circumference.

A statement published on a Twitter account created for Mr Cameron’s challenge reads: “Cam has now been recovered from Rockall, and is safe and in good hands.

“We will post further updates in the coming days. We will not be conducting interviews at this time.”

Mr Cameron’s family said in a statement: “We are hugely proud of all his achievements, but also that he had the courage to make what must have been a very difficult decision in the face of such dreadful weather.

“We are looking forward to welcoming him home and hope that any future adventures will be a little less risky.”

His family joked: “Why couldn’t he just have bought a sports car in the first place?”

A documentary about Mr Cameron’s challenge, named Rockall, The Edge of Existence, is currently being produced.

While he had company from radio operators Nobby Styles and Emil Bergmann for the first four days, Mr Cameron had since been on his own on the rock, which is situated around 220 miles west of the Outer Hebrides.

He had faced difficult weather conditions in recent days and was preparing for another week of storms ahead of his 54th birthday on Sunday.

Anyone wishing to donate can do so on Mr Cameron's JustGiving page.

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