A solo sailor has reportedly suffered a spinal injury after enduring 24 hours of “hell” in the Great Australian Bight during a failed record attempt.

Xavier Doerr was rescued by a bulk carrier in giant waves and wild weather late Saturday after the 22-year-old sent out a distress signal.

The Queenslander was forced to trigger an emergency beacon shortly before 5pm the previous day while attempting to break several sailing records around Australia.

He is expected to be collected by Medivac helicopter and transported to South Australia for treatment.

Doerr had been hoping to become the youngest and fastest sailor to sail non-stop and unassisted around Australia and to complete the journey in less than 50 days.

But the experienced sailor reported he had sustained injuries and his boat was taking on water, causing him to fear for his safety, according to a social media update by support crew.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said he was taken on board by diverted Bulk Carrier Theodore JR and treated for injuries.

Authorities established radio and visual contact with Doerr by air after picking up the distress call, with vessels arriving at his location on Saturday afternoon.

Two merchant vessels were diverted to the 6.5-metre sailing yacht’s location about 630km west of Kangaroo Island in South Australia and 740km southeast of Esperance in Western Australia.

Winds gusting over 100km/h and eight-metre waves made the rescue difficult, with Doerr winched from his stricken vessel after several failed attempts.

Aerial footage showed his yacht Waterline being tossed around by large waves with its sails bundled on the deck.

Embarking from Queensland’s Southport Yacht Club to complete an anti-clockwise circumnavigation, Doerr had already travelled over 5200 nautical miles when he ran into trouble and had been at sea 64 days.

Support crew member, Lee Randall said they lost radio contact with Mr Doerr for an extended period on Friday afternoon.

“It’s been a hell of a 24 hours,” he said.

Mr Randall told the ABC Doerr was “completely wrung out” mentally after asking to be removed from his boat.

“Xavier’s decision, Xavier’s call — I don’t think any of us can really even think about what he’s going through right now,” he said.

“Conditions are absolutely horrendous … we’re talking 40 knots minimum, we’re talking eight-metre seas and also, unfortunately, that’s also the thing that’s undermining the rescue attempt.

“Physically he has sustained some injuries and the boat is taking on some water.”

“He’s absolutely at the end of what a human can cope with,” he added.

Two Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) challenger class rescue aircraft remained overhead throughout the night and communicated with Doerr via VHF radio.