NAVY SCRAMBLES TO FIND PARALYZED SOLO SAILOR TRAPPED IN BED

An international rescue mission was underway Sunday to find a solo yachtsman trapped on the bunk bed of his stricken boat 3,000 kilometres off the coast of Western Australia, after a storm broke the mast and left him paralyzed.

Abhilash Tomy, an Indian naval officer, was competing in the round-the-world Golden Globe Race when his 10-metre vessel Thuriya was thrown off course in the Indian Ocean.

He is understood to have been seriously injured during the storm, as he warned in a satellite text message: “Can’t walk. Might need stretcher.” Tomy added, in a second text message: “Can move toes. Feel numb. Can’t eat or drink. Tough 2 reach grab bag.” The Australian Defence Force was called in.