The Australian Navy has rescued French Vendee Globe skipper Yann Elies. Elies broke his leg on Thursday when a large wave slammed against his yacht Generali. He crawled back to his bunk and spent 48 hours there, unable to reach painkillers or food on the other side of the cabin.
From the International Herald Tribune:
“I can tell you that the doctor made an assessment that he would have died if we had not arrived on the scene,” the Arunta’s commanding officer Steven Bowater said. “He wasn’t able to get to his painkiller. He wasn’t able to get to food and fluids, so it’s a good thing that we arrived in such good time.”