NEW DELHI, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Indian Navy's sailor Abhilash Tomy who had got severely injured in his back while participating in the circumnavigation of the globe - "Golden Globe Race 2018" has been rescued, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman confirmed Monday.
He was rescued by a French naval vessel.
According to the minister, Tomy is doing fine and the French vessel will soon shift him to a nearby island from where the Indian Navy warship INS Satpura will take him to Mauritius for medical aid.
"A sense of relief to know that naval officer @abhilashtomy is rescued by the French fishing vessel. He's conscious and doing okay. The vessel will shift him to a nearby island (I'lle Amsterdam) by evening. 'INS Satpura' will take him to Mauritius for medical attention," tweeted the minister.
Meanwhile, media reports quoted Tomy's father as saying that he is conscious but tired and dehydrated.
Tomy was representing India during the Golden Globe Race 2018, but his indigenously-built boat Thuriya had lost its mast after being caught in the storm that whipped up 14-metre high waves. He also suffered a back injury that left him immobilised.
An Indian Navy aircraft P-8I had visually sighted Thuriya which was "rolling excessively" in the turbulent sea on Sunday morning approximately 1,900 nautical miles southwest from Australia's Perth and about 2,700 nautical miles from Cape Comorin.
In his last text message, Tomy had indicated that he was safe but immobile due to back injury. The 39-year-old navy officer has not had a drop of water since the injury and could not communicate with rescue planes as his marine radio batteries were dead.
In 2013, Tomy had become the first Indian to circumnavigate the globe onboard his boat Mhadei, solo non-stop and unassisted.
