Record-breaking adventurer Nick Hancock was forced to leap into the sea to finally get off the Atlantic Ocean rock which had been his home for 45 days.
On Thursday, the Edinburgh-based chartered surveyor broke the world record for the longest occupation of uninhabited Rockall, a small, barren chunk of granite poking out of the sea, almost 300 miles west of the Scottish mainland.
But the 39-year-old was stuck on the eroding ancient volcano until the weather improved enough at the weekend for a motorboat to collect him.
On Saturday afternoon, he was delighted to spot his “taxi” – the coastal cruise boat, Orca III of Harris-based Kilda Cruises, coming into view over the overcast horizon.
Wet-suited crew members jumped into the Orca’s dingy and clambered up the rock to help him lower his equipment down its vertical east side.
Last of all, his heavy bright-yellow pod was glided down the sheer rock before he too scrambled down its slippery southern face.
A 6ft swell made it impossible for the tender to close in so to the adventurer jumped into the sea and swam out to grab a rope thrown from the dingy.
The crew yanked him inboard and sped to the nearby Orca III where Kilda Cruises’ owner Angus Campbell was the first to congratulate him with champagne.
Mr Hancock missed the entire World Cup and didn’t know Germany had won until he got a satellite link for a Skype call with his wife.
He hopes to have raised £10,000 for Help for Heroes as well as clinching the world record.
Mr Hancock, who was also presented with a length of Isle of Harris tartan Harris Tweed on behalf of Western Isles MSP Alasdair Allan, said: “The first thing I want to do is hug my wife and little boy. Then, have a shower.”
However, he had to wait yet another day before his wish was granted.
The homeward bound Orca III steamed 100 miles to shelter in Village Bay, St Kilda for a few hours, arriving in her home port of Leverburgh around 9.30am yesterday, where a small crowd of well-wishers including Mr Hancock’s wife, Pamela, and two-year-old Freddie, were on the pier to greet him.