A stricken solo yachtsman in distress has been plucked to safety by a cargo ship off the New Zealand coastline.
The 64-year-old Polish man was reluctant to leave his yacht when the ship, Key Opus, arrived on the scene after the man's yacht suffered steering failure 2,700km east of New Zealand.
The Rescue Coordination Centre contacted the New Zealand Defence Force to organise an Air Force P3K2 Orion to fly from New Zealand to the yacht with a Polish speaker onboard to convince him to be rescued.
After a four-hour flight, the Orion arrived at the scene just after 9am.
RCCNZ Search and Rescue Mission Co-ordinator Dave Wilson said the man spoke little English, a "hurdle we had to overcome".