New Zealand sailor Peter Burling has avoided possible injury midway through the third leg of the Volvo Ocean Race as the fleet battle each other and rogue waves in the Southern Ocean.
Burling, along with Team Brunel teammate Annie Lush, were grinding as the Dutch boat prepared to gybe across to the Antarctic Ice Exclusion Zone when a rogue wave hit.
The force of the wave sent Burling and Lush flying, propelling the pair into a guard rail at the back of the boat.
While Team Brunel said Burling was "doing well" after the incident and was unhurt, the same couldn't be said for Lush who was left feeling pain down the right side of her body, leaving her unable to move her leg.
"Pete and I both got smashed to the back of the boat," Lush said.
"I couldn't stand up so I tried to crawl but I couldn't use my right leg at all so the guys had to drag me across the deck and carry me downstairs to the bunk."
Lush has since been prescribed painkillers and plenty of rest by on-call doctor Spike Briggs.
Team Brunel skipper Bouve Bekking said the now-undermanned team would dig deep for Lush.
"Annie will be confined to her bunk another 24 hours and hopefully she'll be OK. She's a tough cookie," he said.
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