A solo Indian yachtsman trapped in his bunk by a serious back injury thousands of miles from land has been rescued, an Indian navy official said.
Abhilash Tomy, a competitor in the Golden Globe round-the-world race, was badly injured when his vessel was damaged in a storm on Friday 2,200 miles from western Australia.
Race organisers said the 39-year-old Indian navy commander had been "incapacitated on his bunk".
An international rescue mission involving the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), a French fisheries patrol vessel and the Indian Navy had been trying to rescue the sailor.
They declared success this morning. "Tomy rescued safely," tweeted an Indian navy spokesman.
Rescuers had been unable to make direct contact with Mr Tomy as his main satellite phone was damaged, and his injury meant he was unable to reach a second satellite phone or his handheld VHF radio.
Two P8 Poseidons - one from the Royal Australian Air Force and another from the Indian Armed Forces - flew over the yacht yesterday.
Fears had been growing for Mr Tomy's safety as conditions in the isolated region can be treacherous, with strong winds and high waves buffeting the yacht and rescue vessels.
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 communications equipment.
Tomy's own yacht is a replica of Robin Knox-Johnston's Suhaili, winner of the first Golden Globe Race.
Gregor McGuckin, from Dublin, set sail from Les Sables d’Olonne on 1 July, however he contacted race organisers saying that he got "rolled" in the Indian Ocean and could not continue in the race.
An operation to rescue Mr McGuckin is ongoing in the Indian Ocean.
Abhilash Tomy has been successfully rescued onto the French patrol vessel Osiris, he is conscious and talking. The rescuers will now conduct a controlled rescue of Gregor McGuckin, who is not in distress... https://t.co/9VVeyR1c7E
— Yachting World (@yachtingworld) September 24, 2018
