Australia helping in code red search for injured Indian skipper Abhilash Tomy
THE Australian Maritime Safety Authority is co-ordinating the rescue of injured skipper Abhilash Tomy — described as one of India’s most prominent sailors — who hasn’t been heard from since reporting a sailing injury overnight.
A code red alert has been issued after the solo skipper sent a dramatic text message sounding the alarm.
It could take days for rescuers to reach Commander Tomy who had been competing in the Golden Globe Race at the time of his injury.
The 39-year-old Indian national is said to be severely injured in remote waters more than 3000 kilometres west of Perth.
The naval officer is described as one of India’s most prominent sailors.
Race organisers say Cmdr Tomy hasn’t been heard from since he sent a text message overnight, saying: “ROLLED. DISMASTED. SEVERE BACK INJURY. CANNOT GET UP.”
AMSA spokesman Dan Glover said the authority have arranged for a nearby French fisheries patrol vessel to go to the scene but it could take days to reach the injured skipper.
An aircraft and other racing yachts may be able to check on the yacht in the meantime.
The Australian Airforce’s p-8A poseidon surveillance aircraft has also been tasked to monitor the yacht - it is expected to reach the scene tonight.
An ‘all ships’ alert has been issued.
The Indian Navy has also been alerted and is on standby to assist in the search effort.
A navy spokesman told Indian media Commander Tomy’s boat had been dismasted due to bad weather.”
Cmdr Tomy holds the record as the first Indian to complete a solo, unassisted, non-stop circumnavigation under sail, which he completed in 2013.
AMSA say there has been no further contact with him since his distress text.
Mr Glover said the race competitors were hit by rough storm weather, which saw multiple yacht’s dismasted.
The Golden Globe Race started on July 1 in Les Sables-d’Olonne, France with 18 sailors in the line-up.
Race chairman Don McIntyre said he was grateful for Australia’s assistance in the search.
“We are very grateful to all these international organisations for mobilising their resources so quickly and for the lead role taken by MRCC in Canberra,” he said.
“The position of Tomy’s yacht Thuriya, a replica of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s yacht Suhail, winner of the first GGR 50 years ago, is some 1,900 miles south West of Perth, Western Australia at the extreme limit of immediate rescue range.
“The fact that Abhilash has been unable to make contact via text or sat phone, nor set off his emergency beacon is unusual and suggests that he remains incapacitated. The only link is the tracking signal we are receiving from the yacht, but the batteries have a limited life.”
Other race competitors have been alerted to the situation and have offered to assist.
Gregor McGuckin, who was the subject of a Code Orange alert himself following his yacht dismasting during the race, planned to head towards Cmdr Tomy’s location.
More to come.
