Another Boat Mishap Off Jerudong

Bandar Seri Begawan - As the search continue for two men reported missing a week ago, another boat capsized this morning off Jerudong Beach after being hit by a huge wave. One of the two Indonesian nationals involved in the mishap was saved but his companion is still missing.

The incident that happened at around 10.15 this morning involved a boat measuring 23 feet long. The boat believed to be about less than a metre offshore capsized after being hit by a wave of more than 4 metres high.

According to witnesses, both men, Agus and Abdul Khoir, tried to ride the huge wave but their boat overturned and both men were thrown out into the sea. Fisherman Abdul Khoir, 35, who survived recalled the fateful outing.

According to Abdul Khoir after being thrown out of the boat he managed to keep afloat by hanging onto a "coolbox" that happened to be floating near him. Of his friend Agus, he said, there was no sign of him although he called out his name.

According to Abdul Khoir the evening when they set out the sea was calm and it was only on returning home early this morning that the sea turned somewhat rough. Abdul Khoir stressed that both of them had on lifejackets at the time of the mishap.

At the time of the mishap Abdul Khoir managed to stay afloat by hanging on to a "coolbox" before being pulled out of the water by friends who happened to be at the Jerudong Beach at that time.

Syukur bin Laisi, also an Indonesian, working in the same company with Abdul Khoir, talked of his frantic efforts to save his friend.

Syukur said that he was only aware of his friends' predictment when a heard a cry for help from the one of the victin'is. With the help of other people he managed to throwa rope for Abdul to hang on and subsequently pulled him out to safety.

A number of rescue personnel of the Fire Services Diving Section headed by its Deputy Commander of "F" Operation, Assistant Superintendent Awang Haji Ariffin bin Haji Sulaiman were at the accident site. But heavy sea conditions prevented them from carrying out the search for the other victim farther out to sea.

The Royal Brunei Air Force is joining in the search and rescue operation from a helicopter.

Meanwhile relatives and friends of the two men reported missing at sea on Sunday, continue to keep vigil at the boat landing area in Jerudong Beach to obtain update of developments from the rescue squad.

This morning RTB had the opportunity to meet with several family members of one of the missing men.

Awang Amran bin Ludin, a relative of victim Awang Sopihan bin Haji Tamit, recalled receiving an SMS message at about seven minutes past two of that fateful Sunday.

Awang Amran said he received the SMS stating that the victims were in difficulties at sea between Induke and Magpie.

After reading the distress call he reported the incident to the Muara marine and rescue. However, the rescue team was unable to launch a search immediately because of high seas.

Dayang Siti Huzaimah binti Ramli, a wife and mother of four children whose ages ranged between three months and ten years, said her husband, Awang Sopihan, loved to go out fishing every weekend.

She said that on these fishing trips her husband used to leave the house at six in the morning and return home at four in the afternoon. But on that fateful Sunday she sensed something amiss and went to the Jerudong Beach at 3 in the afternoon to look for him. The sea was rough then, she recalled. She also failed to contact him through the handphone.

The search and rescue operation entered its sixth day today. Families of the missing men have high hopes that they will return safely.

Dayang Siti Huzaimah is unwavering in the hope that her husband and his friend are washed ashore safe on some island or near Labuan.

She prays that both of them are safe. But whatever it is, she said, she put their fate in Allah the Almighty.  -- Courtesy Radio Television Brunei

Click Here To Have Your Say On This Story

Brudirect.com News

Brunei's Fastest Growing Website with