A sailor aboard American-based sail-racing yacht Puma returned to the deck on Wednesday after his dislocated shoulder was put back in place by teammates during the fifth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race heading toward Itajai, Brazil.
With American crewmember Casey Smith already below deck because of a back injury, Puma was also without Tomas Johanson after the Finnish Olympic gold medallist hurt his shoulder when a huge wave hit the deck of the boat.
Three crewmembers, led by helmsman Jono Swain, consulted with doctors on land before popping Johanson’s shoulder back into place as the boat neared the Southern Ocean.
“Johanson had been in a bunk writhing in pain but, thanks to the assistance of the doctors back on land, Jono just slowly popped his shoulder back in place,” said skipper Ken Read of Newport, Rhode Island. “It was a Eureka moment and you saw his eyes open up. It was instantaneous relief.”
