Boat skipper dies while out fishing

 

A fishing boat skipper died after fainting near the Sungai Pulai Marine Department Jetty in Gelang Patah last night.

Johor Maritime director Nurul Hizam Zakaria said Borhan Muhamed, 61, was said to have just come out of the Simpang Kiri jetty in Sungai Karang before fainting while trying to cut a net stuck on the boat's engine.

"Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) Johor Bahru received an emergency call at 9.40pm last night from Borhan's friend informing that Borhan had fainted, and he asked for assistance because he was not skilled in navigating the boat," he said in a statement today.

Nurul Hizam said the Kilat 12 vessel belonging to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) was deployed to the scene while MRSC contacted the Health Ministry to dispatch paramedics.

Borhan was pronounced dead at 11.05pm and his body was later sent to Sultanah Aminah Hospital, Johor Bharu for further action.

Nurul Hizam asked the public, especially the maritime community, to contact the Johor Maritime Operations Centre at 07-2199404 or the MERS 999 emergency line in the event of an emergency or crime in state waters.

He said the maritime community was also encouraged to bring a Personal Locator Beacon which serves to send emergency signals to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), especially when they are in areas without access to communication lines, he said.

- Bernama