Even as India, Australia and other international agencies launched a massive effort to rescue a seriously injured Indian Navy Commander Abhilash Tomy participating in the Golden Global Race
(GGR) 2018, the organisers of the round-the-world race admitted on Saturday that he was "as far from help as you can possibly be".
Tomy's yacht—an indigenously built sailing vessel, SV Thuraya—had its mast broken off when it was rolled in a storm on Friday and the yachtsman suffered what he called "a severe back injury". The organisers described him as "incapacitated on his bunk inside his boat" and his yacht is 3,704 kilometres off the coast of Perth, Western Australia.
On Saturday, he managed to send a message saying: "Extremely difficult to walk, might need stretcher, can't walk, thanks safe inside the boat... Sat phone down." The organisers said on the race website: "The Australian Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre is working hard to assess and coordinate all possible options to rescue Abhilash Tomy who is as far from help as you can possibly be."
Tomy, a 39-year-old commander in the Indian Navy, is able to communicate using a YB3 texting unit but his primary satellite phone is damaged.
He has a second satellite phone and a handheld VHF radio packed in an emergency bag, but organisers said he was unable to reach it for the moment.
The organisers said they had urged him to try to get to the bag because it could be crucial in making contact with a plane from Australia and an Indian air force plane which might be able to fly over the area.
Given the distance from land, the planes will not be able to spend long in the area, the organisers added.
A French fishing boat was also heading to the scene "but may not arrive for a few days".
Late on Friday, Commander Tomy managed to relay a message on his SatPhone indicating his condition and seeking help, though he was safe.
The messages were picked up by Indian authorities and ARRC which is now coordinating a rescue mission jointly with several agencies, including the Australian Defence Department and the Indian Navy, a defence spokesperson said.
According to a report issued from the Les Sables d'Olonne, France Friday night, the 70 knot winds and 14 metre high seas have left the yachts of Indian Navy's Tomy and Ireland's Gregor McGuckin dismasted, and have twice knocked down the yacht of second-placed Dutchman Mark Slats.
Both McGuckin and Slats report that they are okay.
The Golden Globe Race involves a gruelling 30,000-mile solo circumnavigation of the globe in yachts similar to those used in the first race 50 years ago, with no modern technology allowed except the communication equipment.
Commander Tommy was in third position and has sailed over 10,500 nautical miles in the last 84 days, since commencement of the race on July 1.
(With PTI and Onmanorama inputs)
