Injured Indian Navy commander Abhilash Tomy rescued three days after SOS

Tomy’s vessel was dismasted in extremely rough weather and sea conditions, with wind speeds of 130 kmph, on 21 September 2018, 82 days into the race.
Abhilash Tomy (Photo | Facebook/ Abhilash Tomy)
Abhilash Tomy (Photo | Facebook/ Abhilash Tomy)

KOCHI: After three days of midsea ordeal, Commander Abhilash Tomy, who suffered a serious back injury as his yacht was caught in a storm and dismasted while participating in the Golden Globe Race, a solo non-stop circumnavigation event, was rescued at 12.30 pm on Monday.

French fishing vessel Osiris reached the spot where Abhilash Tomy's damaged yacht was located by Indian Navy's P8i surveillance aircraft on Sunday. After checking his health condition. The crew shifted him to a Gemini boat and took him on board the vessel used an orange stretcher.

According to the crew, he is conscious.

"The good news is he has been rescued and shifted on board a fishing vessel. He has been provided first aid. Australian Naval vessel HMAS Ballarat, which set off from Perth on Saturday will reach the spot on Tuesday. The ship has a doctor and medical facilities on board. They will check his health condition and decide on whether to shift him to a hospital in Australia or to take him to India. INS Satpura, an India Navy vessel which was in the South India Ocean is also proceeding to the spot. But it will reach the spot only on Thursday," Defence PRO Commander Sridhar Warrier told Express.

The Osiris has started sailing towards the yacht of Gregor McGuckin, another contestant who was also stranded as his yacht was dismasted in the storm. Meanwhile, there is concern about the injury of Abhilash Tomy as he has been complaining of continuous vomiting and chest burning.

More than 80 days into the race, Abhilash Tomy was caught in a storm and dismasted on 21 September 2018 --- he sent a text to the race headquarters in France, Tomy typed out a distress message that read, "ROLLED. DISMASTED. SEVERE BACK INJURY. CANNOT GET UP."

(With online desk inputs)

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