To help maintain continuity and give players a chance to explore everything they'd like before being rescued, we do ask that characters aren't rescued by anyone too early into the event.

However, you can decide what it is that ultimately slows him down. If you'd prefer to use a reason other than magical interference for why he's delayed such as a monster or other obstacles, that would be completely fine. Another option is if characters are split up and the ones he locates are last to be found.