Commander Tomy safe, will be rescued soon: Navy

New Delhi: Commander Abhilash Tomy of the Indian Navy, who is stranded in the south Indian Ocean following his boat wreck during the Golden Globe Race 2018, is safe and would be rescued soon, the Navy said on Sunday.

"Commander Abhilash Tomy of the Indian Navy, representing India in the Golden Globe Race 2018 is in the south Indian Ocean, approximately 1,900 nautical miles south-west from Perth, Australia and about 2,700 nautical miles from Cape Comorin... All efforts are being made to rescue him," the Navy said.

"Indian Navy P-8I aircraft operating ex-Mauritius has visually sighted 'Thuriya' (the boat in which he was sailing) on Sunday. Continuous watch over the boat is being maintained by Indian Navy and RAAF aircraft" and this will continue till the rescue operation is completed, it said.

Officer Tomy was taking part in the race on an indigenously built 'Thuriya' and suffered a back injury on Friday after a massive wave wrecked the boat.

The Australian Rescue Coordination Centre at Canberra is coordinating the rescue mission in conjunction with several agencies including the Australian Defence Department and the Indian Navy.

The Navy said that Indian Naval stealth frigate -- INS Satpura with a Chetak Helicopter and tanker, INS Jyoti operating in the Indian Ocean -- have been dispatched for the rescue mission.

"The officer in his last text message has indicated that he is safe on the boat. However, he is immobile due to back injury," it said.