A TGO Challenger, who was experiencing severe abdominal pains, was rescued today after a distress beacon was picked-up 4,000 miles away in the States.

A TGO Challenger, who was experiencing severe abdominal pains, was rescued today after a distress beacon was picked-up 4,000 miles away in the States.

The Challenger, from Denmark, was using a SPOT satellite tracker, as tested in the April issue of TGO.

The RAF, who co-ordinated the Danish man's rescue, said it was the first activation of this new type of distress transmitter in the UK.

Our Challenger, whose name has been withheld, became ill in Glen Etive, 15 miles south of Fort William. He activated the emergency 999 button on his SPOT handset and a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) text message arrived 4,000 miles away in Houston, Texas, at the GEOS Emergency Response Centre.

The centre then contacted police in Fort William, who alerted RAF Kinloss, who in turn sent a Royal Navy Sea King from Prestwick, Ayrshire to rescue the backpacker in Glen Etive. He was then taken to the Belford Hospital in Fort William where he is recovering.

Rescue co-ordinator, Flight Sergeant Tim Dickinson, told our sister newspaper, The Herald: "This was a perfect example of excellent cooperation between the police at Fort William and the military search and rescue services.

"We have rescued a Danish walker in the Scottish mountains following an emergency call from the USA, using a Royal Navy helicopter and co-ordinated by the Royal Air Force."

He said he would encourage the use of such systems by walkers and yachtsmen.

More information on the SPOT Personal tracker is available from the April issue of TGO or from the UK distributer at www.AdventureTradingPost.co.uk