Man living 'off the grid' in remote Scottish cabin rescued after distress signal detected thousands of miles away

Pensioner normally activates beacon to 'check-in' with family, but triggered SOS instead

A coastguard helicopter was sent to the remote cabin (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

A pensioner who lives “off the grid” in a cabin in a remote area of Scotland was rescued after his distress signal was picked up in Texas.

The man who is in his mid-70s has lived alone in Lochaber for 25-years.

He normally activates his SPOT beacon in a “check-in” mode every Sunday to let family and friends know he is OK, but over the weekend he triggered an SOS signal instead.

His request for help was picked up thousands of miles away at the International Emergency Response Coordination Centre in the Texan city of Houston.

Responders relayed the signal to HM Coastguard Mission Control Centre in Fareham, Hampshire, at around 6pm and the decision was made to send the Prestwick Coastguard helicopter to his remote cabin.

Unable to land because of thick woodland, members of the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team were instead flown in.

Neil Blewett, UK aeronautical operations centre controller (ARCC) for HM Coastguard, said the man had been taken to hospital and was doing well.

“What must seem a very long way round for an alert to reach us is actually very quick thanks to the satellite technology that we use,” Mr Blewett said. "In this case, the man’s activation of his beacon, the satellites and the SPOT beacon itself saved his life because without any of those we would not have known he needed urgent help.

“We have since heard that the man is doing well and we wish him a speedy recovery so that he can return home as soon as possible.”