British sailor Tony Bullimore, whose story of survival made international headlines, has died at the age of 79.
The BBC and ITV News reported that the veteran yachtsman died after being diagnosed with cancer.
In 1997, he was miraculously saved by the Australian Navy after being stranded in the Southern Ocean for four days when his yacht capsized.
Mr Bullimore had been taking part in the Vendée Globe single-handed race and used an emergency beacon to attract attention 2,500 kilometres away from the Australian coast.
Images of Mr Bullimore being rescued were big news across the world, and in the vision he was seen kissing his rescuers on the cheek.
The sailor, who survived winds of up to 160kph, was feared to have drowned, after his boat, the Exide Challenger, capsized.
But he was found crouched in the upturned hull of his yacht, after famously living on chocolate and water.
According to the BBC, the Queen had praised Mr Bullimore's "extraordinary feat of survival" and he was later introduced to Her Majesty.
Despite his near-death experience, Mr Bullimore was still racing on the water at the age of 78 last year.
Last year marked 20 years since the rescue, which was estimated to have cost $6 million.
