Navy sailor rescued after three days

New Delhi/Kochi, Sept. 24: Indian Navy sailor Abhilash Tomy was rescued from the Indian Ocean near Australia in a multi-nation operation Monday, three days after he suffered a grievous back injury when a powerful storm hit his boat while he was on a solo race around the world, Navy officials said.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the commander is “conscious and doing okay” after his ordeal. Tomy, 39, who was sailing as part of the Golden Globe Race — a solo sailboat race around the world — drifted in the sea for three days before he was rescued by French fishing vessel Osiris, officials said.

His boat Thuriya was hit by a deadly storm, about 1,900 nautical miles from Perth, Australia, on Friday. The main mast of his boat was ripped off by around 15-metre high waves, they said.

Navy spokesperson Capt D.K. Sharma said French fishing vessel Osris, assisted by Indian Navy’s P8I surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft, reached close to Thuriya around 1130 hrs (IST) and carried out a successful rescue operation using a small boat.

“Cdr Tomy was rescued by a boat and rescue team from Osiris. The rescue team shifted Cdr Tomy in a stretcher from Thuriya to Osiris using their Gemini boat. He has been reported to be conscious and has been provided with initial medical care,” he said.

Capt Sharma said Osiris proceeded to rescue a second sailor whose boat was also damaged in the storm. Thereafter, the French vessel will move to take shelter at Ile Amsterdam. —PTI