In Cairo we rescued oarsman (5)
I believe the answer is:
rower
'oarsman' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'in cairo we rescued' is the wordplay.
'in' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'ROWER' is hidden in the letters of 'cairo we rescued'.
(Other definitions for rower that I've seen before include "Waterman" , "Stroke with blade" , "Perhaps stroke" , "Oarsman/oarswoman" , "Might one argue" .)