Injured, alone and a long way from help
An international rescue mission was under way last night to save an injured yachtsman stuck on a damaged boat in one of the world’s remotest stretches of Aˆ ocean.
Abhilash Tomy, a 39-year-old navy commander who became the first Indian to sail alone around the world in 2013, has been unable to move aboard his 10m vessel, Thuriya, since he hurt his back as the boat rolled and lost its mast in extreme weather about 3200km off the coast of Western Australia.
He is taking part in one of the world’s most challenging solo events, The Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, a 50,000km journey around the world which celebrates Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s historic 1968-1969 first solo non-stop circumnavigation. The rules do not allow for any outside assistance, modern technology or satellite-based navigation aids.
Race organisers learnt of the severity of Tomy’s injuries from a series of desperate messages he sent from the yacht’s bunk using a texting device.
He said he had lost feeling in his toes and was unable to reach an emergency grab bag that contained a satellite phone that would allow him to talk to rescuers.
‘‘Can’t walk. Might need stretcher,’’ the first message said.
A second followed: ‘‘Can move toes. Feel numb. Can’t eat or drink. Tough 2 reach grab bag.’’
Race organisers said that a tracking unit on his yacht was providing his position.
‘‘Tomy is incapacitated on his bunk inside the boat after being rolled and dismasted yesterday (Sunday),’’ they said, adding that he was ‘‘as far from help as you can possibly be’’ and was drifting in the region where it is believed the lost Malaysian flight MH370 vanished in 2014.
Don McIntyre, the race chairman based in Les Sables d’Olonne in France, where competitors began their journeys on July 1, said the position of Thuriya, a replica of Sir Robin’s yacht Suhaili, was ‘‘at the extreme limit of immediate rescue range’’.
An Irish competitor in the race, Gregor McGuckin, said he intended to try to reach Tomy from his position about 150km to the south west even though his boat had also been rolled and dismasted in huge seas.
Organisers said McGuckin was having to hand-steer his yacht, Hanley Energy Endurance, after his self-steering device was smashed by his falling mast. He had rigged a simple sail with a spinnaker pole but the alloy tube was bending in heavy gusts and he was having trouble with the boat’s engine.
Australian Maritime Safety Authority spokesman Dan Glover said that conditions remained very rough. Australia has search and rescue responsibility for the region and is co-ordinating the rescue mission. Three aircraft – two military and a private jet – were taking turns circling over Tomy while ships raced to get there. The Australian Defence Force has dispatched ships and aircraft but a French fisheries patrol vessel, Osiris, which has medical facilities, is expected to reach him first.
Born in the southern state of Kerala, the son of a naval policeman, Tomy has been obsessed with the ocean and tales of adventure since childhood. After helping refit boats for round the world sailing teams, he began his own solo circumnavigation in 2012.