The rescue plane left Honolulu on Wednesday morning after receiving an emergency signal from Mr Halsey.

He was very weak. He said he hadn't eaten anything in two weeks

Lieutenant Mark Harrison

The search plane co-ordinated the pickup while circling Mr Halsey and he was plucked safely from his rowing boat.

"He was very weak," said Lieutenant Mark Harrison, commander of the search plane.

Mr Halsey left San Diego on 15 July and was heading for Australia aboard his 27-foot custom-built rowboat called The Brittany Rose.

But he got into difficulties because of horrendous weather.

He spent much of February rowing in circles while supporters at the Ocean Rowing Society feared he would be lost.

Although they were able to track him daily, there was no way to directly communicate with him.

In seven months he completed 6,000 miles, but 4,000 of those were in the wrong direction.

Between July and October he suffered four epileptic seizures and set off his emergency beacon serveral times.

The boat had a traceable satellite beacon

At one point, supporters said Mr Halsey was prepared to die at sea because of his determination.

He had once spent seven weeks without food while becoming the first disabled person to cross the Atlantic.

The coastguard is not sure how soon Mr Halsey will be taken to land.

"At this point, the fishing vessel wants to continue fishing," said petty officer Eric Hedaa.

Five British rowers and a Russian have disappeared, presumed dead, on similar rowing challenges since 1966.

The last death was of British rower Peter Bird, 49, who was lost at sea on his fourth attempt to row single-handedly across the Pacific in 1996.