‘We had to swim 14 hours,’ says skipper after rescue of 4 fishermen

 

Search and rescue efforts are continuing for a missing fisherman, one of five on a boat that capsized in Pulau Perhentian waters yesterday. (Bernama pic)

PASIR PUTEH: “We had to swim for a good 14 hours,” said skipper Tuan Azhar Tengku Long, one of the four fishermen rescued at sea after their fishing boat sank in Pulau Perhentian waters yesterday evening.

Recalling their harrowing experience, Tuan Azhar said all of them jumped into the sea after their boat was hit by waves up to 4m high at about 1.30pm.

“We were then hauling the fishing nets into the boat and did not realise that the waves were getting bigger and seawater had flooded the boat,” he said when met by reporters at the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Jetty at Tok Bali here today.

The others who survived the ordeal were Tuan Azhar’s son, Tuan Azrizal, 19, Mohd Azri Mohd Rasdi, 28, and Norizan Yusof, 45. Norizan was rushed to the Kuala Besut Health Centre for treatment upon arrival at the jetty.

The four, from Kelantan, were found on the beach near a resort on Pulau Perhentian Besar at 8.45am today.

However, another victim, Saari Saleh, 40, from Terengganu, is still missing and MMEA together with the police and other agencies have mounted a search and rescue operation.

According to Tuan Azhar, the four of them swam back towards Pulau Perhentian but Saari left the group to find his own way to safety.

“I am not sure if he has made it or not,” he said, praying Saari was safe.

Meanwhile, Saari’s mother, Hurani Awang, 73, said she would continue to pray for her son’s safe return.

Earlier, it was reported that the boat with five fishermen was believed to have sunk in Pulau Perhentian waters off Terengganu after being hit by strong waves during heavy rain in the 1pm incident yesterday. - FMT