Survived because of naval training: Tomy

Commander Abhilash Tomy, undergoing treatment in a remote Indian Ocean island after being rescued mid-sea, Wednesday said he survived in the storm hit ocean because of his sailing skills and Naval training.

Thanking all those responsible for saving him, the Naval officer said the sea where his non-motorised yacht was damaged in a storm Friday while competing in the Golden Globe Race was very rough.

“The sea was unbelievably rough. Me& my boat Thuriya were pitched against nature's might.

I survived because of my sailing skills, the soldier bit in me and my Naval training cutin for that fight — Cdr Abhilash Tomy.

Very thankful to #IndianNavy & all who rescued me", Tomy was quoted as saying in the Indian Navy spokesman's tweet. Tomy will possibly be taken to Mauritius when naval vessel INS Satpura reaches him Thursday. Adefence official said in Mumbai that the vessel was expected to reach Ile Amsterdam, a French territory, Thursday and the Indian crew would meet Tomy, a Kirti Chakra awardee.

The 39-year-old sailor had reached there Tuesday after being rescued by a French vessel, the official said.

His non-motorised sailing yacht was damaged in a storm Friday while competing in the Golden Globe Race.

A Navy official said Wednesday that their priority was to shift Tomy to Mauritius, where the Indian Navy has a physical presence.

"He will be taken to a hospital, and if permitted, he would be flown back to India," he said.

A defence spokesman said Tomy suffered some "blunt injuries", but there was no sign of permanent damage to any body part. "The decision on shifting him back to India will be taken only after his thorough medical check-up at Mauritius," he said. Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar P, the vice chief of Naval staff, spoke to Tomy.

"He is doing fine and recovering fast under medical supervision. His medical reports are also fine," he said.