Solo rower rescued near Australia

British solo ocean rower Roz Savage. Photo / AP

A British woman attempting to row solo across the Indian Ocean has been rescued off the West Australian coast after her drinking water pump failed.

Roz Savage left Fremantle two weeks ago to row to India, but strong winds meant after rowing 300 nautical miles, she was only 100 nautical miles from Fremantle.

The 43-year-old rower and author was rescued 20 nautical miles off Leeman, north of Perth, and towed to shore. Savage ran into trouble because the hatch on the compartment where the water maker is kept was not tight enough, which meant seawater was corroding the equipment.