Naval commander Abhilash Tomy was left incapacitated in a sail boat after it was hit by a massive storm in the choppy waters of the Indian Ocean, but even the rough seas could not drown his will to survive against the odds.
Tomy, 39, the "only Asian" to participate in the prestigious Golden Globe Race 2018 -- a 30,000-mile solo circumnavigation of the globe -- that kicked off from Les Sables-d'Olonne, a seaside town in France in July, was rescued from his location late September by French vessel 'Osiris'.
A pilot in the Navy, he shared his experiences and challenges faced during the gruelling contest at a media interaction held at the Kota House here on Thursday.
"After being rescued by 'Osiris', which incidentally is named after the (Egyptian) god of afterlife, I was sent for treatment at a hospital in Amsterdam Island (in southern Indian Ocean). And, a few days later, INS Satpura arrived and evacuated me," he said.
"In India, I underwent a surgery at the Army's R&R Hopsital and realised, had suffered multiple fracture in my spine, and I am still recuperating. And, though there is a feeling of disappointment that I couldn't complete it, I am raring to go back to the seas, once I am deemed fully fit," Tomy told reporters.
The naval officer had circumnavigated the globe in 2012-13, and was a special invitee at the race, which commemorates 50 years of the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race 1968-69.
"He was the only Asian to participate in the event," a senior official of the Navy said.
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Survival was doubly challenging for Tomy and other sailors, as the commemorative race had disallowed use of any modern equipment manufactured after 1968, in a bid to authentically recreate the race held half-a-century ago.
Participants used celestial charts, sextant, compass, old HAM radio sets and other analogue devices dating pre-1968.
Asked if at any point of time, he lost hope of survival, Tomy said, "Navy teaches us the will to survive, and at no point, I ever felt that I won't be rescued. In fact, I just kept a blank mind and bid my time, but it was severely tough as odds were stacked up against me."
Asked about the prior training, he said, "I did training in celestial navigation, a course in medicare in Bombay, and a survival course, but it's the will to survive that Navy teaches that keeps us going."
So, what are the future plans for this adventurous man, he said, "As of now, I am being assigned light work, as I am still recuperating. I will be part of the Ocean Sailing Node in Goa."
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