Kochi: The Indian Navy has rushed to help its officer whose vessel was hit by a storm in South Indian Ocean while he was taking part in the Golden Globe Race.
According to reports, Commander Abhilash Tomy of the Navy, representing India in the Golden Globe Race 2018 (GGR) had built sailing vessel ‘Thuriya’ and suffered back injury after his yacht got hit in the storm on Friday, News18 reported.
The commander has sent a help alert to the Navy and nobody has heard from after the text said the Race organizers.
“ROLLED. DISMASTED. SEVERE BACK INJURY. CANNOT GET UP,” the Commander sent the distressing message.
“All out efforts are being made to rescue Abhilash Tomy. Indian Naval stealth Frigate, INS Satpura operating in the Indian Ocean has been dispatched for the rescue mission,” a Defence spokesman said.
A code red alert has been issued said the spokesperson.
The Indian Navy commander is caught in the storm in the south Indian Ocean, approximately 1,900 nautical miles from Perth in Australia.
The Australian Rescue Coordination centre at Canberra is coordinating with the Indian Navy and other agencies to rescue the commander.
He was reported to be in 3rd position and has sailed over 10,500 nautical miles in the last 84 days since the race commenced on July 1.
According to a report received on storm conditions in the region from the Les Sables d’Olonne, France Friday night, the 70 knot winds and 14 metre high seas have hit yachts of Indian Navy’s Tomy and Ireland’s Gregor McGuckin leaving them dismasted, and have also knocked down the yacht of second-placed Dutchman Mark Slats twice.
While McGuckin and Slats, both are okay, only Indian Navy Commander is reported to be injured in the storm.
Commander Tomy was the first Indian to have circumnavigated the globe in 2013.