Indian Navy's Abhilash Tomy rescued by French vessel

NEW DELHI: Indian Navy's yachtsman, Commander Abhilash Tomy, has been rescued after grueling three days of treacherous seas in the Indian Ocean. The 39-year-old was competing in a nonstop, 30,000 mile solo circumnavigation, the 2018 Golden Globe Race, when his boat was de-masted, severely injuring his back and rendering him immobile.

His boat, 'Thuriya' was damaged in the storm about 1,900 nautical miles from Perth, Australia.




The Australian Rescue Coordination Centre at Canberra was coordinating the rescue mission in cooperation with many agencies, including the Australian Defence Department and the Indian Navy.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said Tomy would be transferred to a nearby Indian Ocean island, Ile Amsterdam, for medical treatment.

An Indian naval ship would later transfer Tomy to Mauritus, according to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

The Indian Navy had deployed its P-8I surveillance aircraft to as part of the rescue mission, officials said.

"He will be picked up by French vessel Osiris shortly... Weather creating impediments," the spokesman had said earlier today.



Nirmala Sitharaman had earlier tweeted Sunday that Commander Tomy shall be picked up in the next 16 hours by the French vessel.

The minister had also said she had spoken to vice-chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar P regarding the condition of the injured navy officer.

"... The rescue mission is being coordinated with the Australian Navy. The injured officer shall be picked up in the next 16 hours by a French vessel Osiris," Sitharaman had said.

(With agency inputs)