Amsterdam, September 28: Commander Abhilash Tomy of the Indian Navy who was stranded 3,200km off the coast of Western Australia after his boat was badly damaged during a storm on 21 September is now recovering from a back injury. While speaking to Hindustan Times, over a satellite phone from Île Amsterdam, said that the sea was scary and he had never seen like this before. His yacht, SV Thuriya was destroyed in the storm.

The 39-year-old was participating in this year’s Golden Globe Race (GGR). It is a circumnavigation race involving solo participants without using the modern technology. Yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he had spoken to Commander Tomy. In his tweet, PM Modi also complimented the teams that were involved in his rescue. The Prime Minister also posted the picture of his meeting with the Indian Navy Commander when he came with the team of INSV Tarini.

Commander Tomy while speaking to Hindustan Times said that hiccups had not stopped since the mishap and he had some problem in speaking because of that. During his interaction with the media house, he said that the speed of the wind was more than 150 kmp and there were 14-metre-high waves. He also said that during the storm the boat’s wind generator was destroyed. His boat was struck by the second storm which was even worse. While cleaning the mess on his boat the naval officer realised that his back was damaged. He could be hardly able to move.

He laid for some time, but during that time his boat took a 360-degree spin. According to the report, he sent a message to the GGR organisers detailing his condition after which he got a call that night to activate the EPIRB (emergency position indicating radio beacon). French patrol vessel Osiris rescued Commander Tomy on September 24. The Indian and the Australian militaries also supported the rescue mission.

Commander Tomy was participating in the GGR, where 11 participants are using 1968 vintage boats and technology to circumnavigate solo and non-stop. The race is being held to celebrate the golden anniversary of first such solo circumnavigation in 1968. The naval officer, who holds the record of being the only Indian to circumvent the globe, lost contact with the race organisers after being hit by a severe storm in the Indian Ocean.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 28, 2018 07:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).