Father And Son Survive Drifting In Sea For 24 Hours
By Azlan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - An 80-year-old father and his 42-year-old son, who went on a fishing trip, had to spend the entire day and night drifting in the sea after the engine in their small boat broke down.

As family members spent a few anxious hours after reporting to the Marine Police on their disappearance, the duo were rescued yesterday by the Marine Police and Fire Services Rescue team near Pulau Baru-Baru in Brunei waters much to their relief. Ampuan Hj Hussin B. Amp. Salleh, 80, and his son, Amp. Zulkipli, set out to catch prawns to take advantage of the current prawn season.

The youngest daughter of Amp. Hj Hussin, Ampuan Umi Kalthum, said the two from Kg. Batu Marang and Kg. Rimba set out in a small boat at 5am on Sunday. They did not return home by 4pm on the same day as was expected.

Their boat engine broke down and they drifted and spent almost a day at sea eating only two 'Nasi Bungkus' or rice.

In an interview with the Bulletin yesterday, they described their ordeal at sea, which was precipitated by strong winds. They were dehydrated and as a result had hallucinations and saw a ghostly appearance.

The two said they modified their paddles with the aid of canvas to erect a temporary said. "We saw some fishermen at a distance but were too tired to paddle the boat for help," Amp. Zulkipli said from his bed in the Emergency Ward of RIPAS Hospital yesterday.

Amp. Umi Kalthum said the search operation concentrated at Sungai Bangau.

The Marine Police said they received a report concerning the missing fishermen at around 9.18pm on Sunday night and managed to trace them at 8.20am yesterday (Monday) at Sungai Damit in Temburong.

Both were rushed to RIPAS Hospital for treatment. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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