Abhilash Tomy to be rescued in a few hours: Navy

The injured Indian sailor is reported to be sick, and surviving on iced tea

Abhilash Tomy Photo of Abhilash Tomy lying in his bunk | Image courtesy: www.goldengloberace.com

The Indian Navy has informed that the rescue team is only a couple of hours away from reaching injured Indian sailor Abhilash Tomy.

"@ggr2018official Help is reaching @abhilashtomy in a few hours from now. We hope to get Tomy, who is injured, out of the damaged boat Thuriya and attend to him ASAP @Australian_Navy @DefenceMinIndia @SpokespersonMoD," the Indian Navy tweeted on Monday.

Tomy was badly injured while participating in the Golden Globe Race. He will be picked up by French vessel Osiris. Thereafter, he is likely to be shifted to Australian Naval ship HMAS Ballart, according to the Indian Naval Defence Attache in Australia.

"OSIRIS the French Fisheries patrol vessel is now due on scene between 0600-0800UTC. Plan is to Launch two zodiacs with crew to Tomy then attempt boarding and admin immediate First Aid. Then assess possible evacuation. The Indian Navy Plane due on scene at 0430UTC to establish communications with Osiris/Gregor. Australian Airforce Plane due on scene 0730UTC . Weather 15-20kts SW swell 5mtrs. Have advised TOMY of latest operational Plan and ETA of Osiris and aircraft," the Golden Globe Race said in a Facebook post on Monday morning.

The Navy also informed that the injured sailor's latest update to race organisers suggested that he was safe, but sick. He is reportedly drawing energy from sipping lots of iced tea.

Meanwhile, a French vessel is fast approaching the accident site in the Southern Ocean, about 3,500 km from Perth, where it is assumed the intrepid sailor is immobile in his boat's cabin. "LUGGED CANS OF ICE TEA. HAVING THAT. VOMITTING CONTINUINGLY. CHEST BURNING," (sic) the Indian naval sailor said in a satellite text message sent on Sunday. Organisers of the Golden Globe Race based in France had received this alert.

It is likely Tomy suffered a spinal injury as his boat rolled over, breaking its mast. "CAN MOVE TOES. FEEL NUMB. CAN'T EAT OR DRINK. TOUGH 2 REACH GRAB BAG", the sailor had messaged a day earlier.

He had also messaged on Saturday, saying: "ACTIVATED EPIRB. CANT WALK. MIGHT NEED STRETCHER." 

EPIRB is the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon used to alert search and rescue services (SAR) in case of an emergency out at sea. 

(With inputs from Onmanorama)

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