Niels Vinther, managing director of Grundfos Manufacturing, in Castletown, Sunderland, suffered acute abdominal pains while on a solo coast to coast walk in the Highlands.

The 60-year-old, originally from Denmark, had the world's first emergency satellite messenger system when he was stranded in Glen Etive, near Fort William.

Mr Vinther sent a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) text which was picked up in Houston, Texas, and triggered an international rescue mission spanning almost 10,000 miles via global satellites.

And within hours Mr Vinther was saved, becoming the first stranded adventurer to use the new emergency message system in Europe.

The businessman was today recovering in Belford Hospital, Fort William, where his condition was described as "comfortable."

His family said he was undergoing scans, and may return home in the next few days.

The multinational inter-agency rescue began at 3am on Monday, while Mr Vinther was taking part in the annual TGO Challenge, where participants take up to 15 days to walk across Scotland from west to east.

He activated the Spot device with the message: "Help message. I'm immobilised but okay and cannot reach you by phone. Find GEOS on Google map and send help."

Local police were eventually called before an RAF helicopter was scrambled.

Rescue coordinator Flight Sergeant Tim Dickinson said, "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 tourist in the Scottish mountains following an emergency call from the USA, using a Royal Navy helicopter and coordinated by the Royal Air Force."