Indian Navy officer Abhilash Tomy on dry land after French vessel rescue

Three days after Indian naval officer Commander Abhilash Tomy, 39, was caught in a storm that damaged his boat and left him with a serious back injury, three nations' combined efforts successfully rescued him on Monday.

Early in the day, the Kirti Chakra awardee was picked up from his boat Thuriya by the French vessel Osiris that then shifted him to a nearby island I'lle Amsterdam — about 100 nautical miles north of the rescue position that was 1,900 nautical miles from Perth, Australia. According to an earlier plan, he was to be shifted to the Australian Naval ship HMAS Ballarat that had already left from Perth, but it was asked to return.

Tomy was participating in the Golden Globe Race and was in the third position when his boat got caught in a storm and demasted.

"The rescue team shifted Cdr Tomy in a stretcher from Thuriya to Osiris using their Gemini boat. He is conscious and has been provided with initial medical care," said Navy spokesperson Capt DK Sharma.

Officials said he will be at the island for the next 4-5 days till INS Satpura reaches, wherein he will be brought to Mauritius for further treatment.