A plane has been sent from Perth to remote waters in the southern Indian Ocean where an Indian sailor is believed to be badly injured, organisers of a yacht race say.

Solo skipper Abhilash Tomy sent a satellite text message that was received on Saturday, saying: “ACTIVATED EPIRB. CANT WALK. MIGHT NEED STRETCHER”, Golden Globe Race organisers said.

A subsequent message read: “CAN MOVE TOES. FEEL NUMB. CAN’T EAT OR DRINK. TOUGH 2 REACH GRAB BAG”.

Race organisers said an executive jet from Perth would reach the area of Tomy’s yacht, about 3,000km south-west of the city on Sunday.

The crew would try to make radio contact with the 39-year-old naval officer and assess the damage.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority is coordinating the rescue, after Tomy’s yacht was damaged in a storm during the round-the-world race.

An AMSA spokesman said they had arranged for a nearby French fisheries patrol vessel to go to the scene.

Race organisers said a search and rescue plane and a Perth-based navy frigate would also help in the rescue.

An Indian navy stealth frigate, operating in the Indian Ocean, has also been diverted for the rescue mission along with an Indian tanker and military plane, according to race organisers.

Other racing yachts may be able to check on the yacht in the meantime.

Tomy became the first Indian to circumnavigate the globe when he achieved the feat in 2013, his website says.