Commander Abhilash Tomy is the first Indian to complete a solo circumnavigation of the globe. (Photo: Facebook/abhilashtomysailing)

The world watched with bated breath as Indian Navy ships and several other vessels raced to rescue Commander Abhilash Tomy, who had been stranded and left incapacitated in a broken boat on the choppy southern Indian Ocean.

Tomy was rescued on September 24 by a French patrol boat, three days after the Navy commander was left stranded at high sea.

On September 21, Commander Tomy's boat was caught in stormy weather following which his vessel's mast broke and he sustained a back injury which incapacitated him.

Follow live updates on Commander Tomy's rescue here

Tomy was representing India in the Golden Globe Race (GGR), a round-the-world trip by solo sailors which eschews the use of modern gizmos like GPS sets and uses only the technology like radio communication which was in vogue 50 years ago. The GGR had started on July 1 this year.

But who is Abhilash Tomy?

Tomy is a reconnaissance pilot in the Indian Navy.

He was born in Chethipuzha in Kerala and his father is a retired Naval officer as well.

Commissioned in the Navy in 2000, he has sailed more than 52,000 nautical miles in his 18-year career.

In March 2013, he became the first Indian, second Asian, and seventy-ninth person to complete a solo, unassisted, non-stop circumnavigation under sail in the Sagar Parikrama II project.

Setting sail on the custom-built Indian Navy vessel INSV Mhadei, Tomy embarked on his first circumnavigation mission in November 2012.

He covered 23,000 nautical miles and sailed for 151 days during the mission.

He was received by then-President Pranab Mukherjee at the end of his journey.

During the Sagar Parikrama, he faced a shortage of water which left him with just 15 litres of fresh water for the last 15 days of his journey. Using his resources to the best of his abilities, he resorted to rainwater harvesting for the rest of the voyage.

He received the Kirti Chakra in 2013, which is the second highest peacetime gallantry award in India for his solo circumnavigation trip.

His Kirti Chakra award was the first for the Indian Navy in 39 years.

He is also a recipient of the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award.

He was also awarded the MacGregor Medal in 2013 which is awarded to Indian Armed Forces personnel for valuable military reconnaissance.

He has represented India in several international events including the Cape Town to Rio Yacht Race, the Spanish Copa del Rey and the Korea Cup.

Tomy also trained the all-woman crew of the INSV Tarini, which undertook the Navika Sagar Parikrama mission -- the first time circumnavigation of the globe by an all women crew.

Tomy is at present taking part in the 30,000-mile Golden Globe Race (GGR), which would be his second solo circumnavigation of the globe. However, this time he is aboard a non-motorised sailboat, the Thuriya.

Commander Tomy is one of the five special invitees to the GGR and the only Asian sailor in the competition. He is sailing with 1,000 ready-to-eat meals, 300 litres of water and 140 litres of fuel.

He had set out on the GGR with the mission of breaking Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s successful completion of a similar voyage in 312 days in 1968-69.

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