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Abhilash Tomy: Rescue mission to reach injured Indian sailor | Abhilash Tomy: Rescue mission to reach injured Indian sailor |
(about 1 hour later) | |
An international rescue team is trying to reach a seriously injured Indian sailor who is taking part in the Golden Globe round-the-world race. | An international rescue team is trying to reach a seriously injured Indian sailor who is taking part in the Golden Globe round-the-world race. |
Solo yachtsman Abhilash Tomy is stranded 3,200km (2,000 miles) off the coast of Western Australia. | Solo yachtsman Abhilash Tomy is stranded 3,200km (2,000 miles) off the coast of Western Australia. |
His yacht Thuriya had its mast broken during a severe storm in the Indian Ocean. | His yacht Thuriya had its mast broken during a severe storm in the Indian Ocean. |
He managed to send a message saying he has a severe back injury and is immobilised, unable to eat or drink. | He managed to send a message saying he has a severe back injury and is immobilised, unable to eat or drink. |
The storm whipped up 70-knot winds and 14-metre (45ft) waves, which twice knocked down the yacht of Dutchman Mark Slats. | The storm whipped up 70-knot winds and 14-metre (45ft) waves, which twice knocked down the yacht of Dutchman Mark Slats. |
Most of the 11 competitors still in the race were further north and avoided the worst of the storm, organisers said. | |
An Irish race competitor, Gregor McGuckin, whose own yacht was damaged in the storm, has set up a temporary rig and is attempting to cover the 150km (90 miles) separating him from Tomy's position. | An Irish race competitor, Gregor McGuckin, whose own yacht was damaged in the storm, has set up a temporary rig and is attempting to cover the 150km (90 miles) separating him from Tomy's position. |
A French fishing vessel is also in the area, but could take several days to reach the scene. | A French fishing vessel is also in the area, but could take several days to reach the scene. |
An Australian Air Force plane is due to overfly the area. and assess the Thuriya's seaworthiness. | An Australian Air Force plane is due to overfly the area. and assess the Thuriya's seaworthiness. |
Race organisers said Tomy was "incapacitated on his bunk inside his boat.... as far from help as you can possibly be". | Race organisers said Tomy was "incapacitated on his bunk inside his boat.... as far from help as you can possibly be". |
"The Australian Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre is working hard to assess and coordinate all possible options to rescue Abhilash Tomy," the organisers said. | "The Australian Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre is working hard to assess and coordinate all possible options to rescue Abhilash Tomy," the organisers said. |
The 39-year-old Indian Navy commander is communicating using a texting unit, after his satellite phone was broken. | The 39-year-old Indian Navy commander is communicating using a texting unit, after his satellite phone was broken. |
On Saturday, he sent a message, saying: "Extremely difficult to walk, Might need stretcher, can't walk, thanks safe inside the boat ... Sat phone down." | On Saturday, he sent a message, saying: "Extremely difficult to walk, Might need stretcher, can't walk, thanks safe inside the boat ... Sat phone down." |
Tomy has a spare satellite phone in an emergency bag, but he is unable to reach it at present. | Tomy has a spare satellite phone in an emergency bag, but he is unable to reach it at present. |
The Golden Globe race involves a single-handed circumnavigation of the globe - a distance of 30,000 miles - without using modern technology, except for satellite communications, Competitors started from France on 1 July; seven boats have so far withdrawn from the race. | |
In 2013, Tomy became the first Indian to sail around the world. | In 2013, Tomy became the first Indian to sail around the world. |
The Thuriya is a replica of Robin Knox-Johnston's Suhail, winner of the first Golden Globe Race in 1968. | The Thuriya is a replica of Robin Knox-Johnston's Suhail, winner of the first Golden Globe Race in 1968. |