The capsized yacht Thuriya of solo sailor Abhilash Tomy is pictured at sea in this September 24, 2018 handout photo by the Indian Navy. Indian Navy/Handout via REUTERS

London- Asharq Al- Awsat

An Indian sailor injured in a solo round-the-world race has been rescued, the Indian Navy said on Monday, after Australian authorities said a French ship was nearing his storm-damaged yacht off Australia’s west coast.

The sailor, Abhilash Tomy, called for emergency assistance on Saturday after the yacht was badly damaged in a storm about 3,500 km west of Australia, leaving him with severe back injuries.

According to Reuters, "Tomy was rescued safely," the Indian Navy said on Twitter, without giving further details.

Earlier, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority had said it expected a French fisheries patrol vessel to reach Tomy’s yacht as soon as 07:00 GMT.

Tomy, whose website says he became the first Indian to circumnavigate the globe in 2013, was a contestant in the Golden Globe Race.