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| Abhilash Tomy: Rescue mission to reach injured Indian sailor | Abhilash Tomy: Rescue mission to reach injured Indian sailor |
| (about 2 hours 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. |
| 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". |
| A French fisheries patrol vessel is sailing towards him and could arrive by Monday. | A French fisheries patrol vessel is sailing towards him and could arrive by Monday. |
| Two military planes, one from Australia and one from India, flew over the yacht on Sunday to inspect its condition, but crew were unable to establish contact with Tomy. | Two military planes, one from Australia and one from India, flew over the yacht on Sunday to inspect its condition, but crew were unable to establish contact with Tomy. |
| "He is injured inside the yacht so he can't communicate further," an Australian Maritime Safety Authority spokesman told AFP news agency. | "He is injured inside the yacht so he can't communicate further," an Australian Maritime Safety Authority spokesman told AFP news agency. |
| The 39-year-old Indian Navy commander, who became the first Indian to sail around the world in 2013, is communicating using a texting unit, after his satellite phone was broken. | The 39-year-old Indian Navy commander, who became the first Indian to sail around the world in 2013, is communicating using a texting unit, after his satellite phone was broken. |
| His boat, the Thuriya, is a replica of Robin Knox-Johnston's Suhaili, winner of the first Golden Globe Race in 1968. | His boat, the Thuriya, is a replica of Robin Knox-Johnston's Suhaili, winner of the first Golden Globe Race in 1968. |
| 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. |
| Rescue efforts | Rescue efforts |
| An Irish race competitor, Gregor McGuckin, whose own yacht was damaged in the storm, has made repairs 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 made repairs and is attempting to cover the 150km (90 miles) separating him from Tomy's position. |
| Meanwhile, race organisers say a search and rescue plane is being sent to Reunion Island to help rescue efforts. | Meanwhile, race organisers say a search and rescue plane is being sent to Reunion Island to help rescue efforts. |
| An Australian frigate with a helicopter on board is also en route, but could take at least four days to reach the area, organisers say. | |
| Friday's storm whipped up 70-knot winds and 14-metre (45ft) waves, which also knocked down the yacht of another competitor, Dutchman Mark Slats, twice. | Friday's storm whipped up 70-knot winds and 14-metre (45ft) waves, which also knocked down the yacht of another competitor, Dutchman Mark Slats, twice. |
| Most of the 11 competitors still in the race were further north and avoided the worst of the storm, organisers said. | Most of the 11 competitors still in the race were further north and avoided the worst of the storm, organisers said. |
| 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. | 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. |