Prayers answered: Supt Ahmad’s parents Che Ma and Baharom speaking to reporters after visiting their son at Hospital Sultanah Aminah in Johor Baru.
JOHOR BARU: The family of Supt Ahmad Bustamin Baharom is grateful that he and his colleagues survived the police helicopter crash during a mock nuclear training exercise in Sungai Pulai.
His father Baharom Mohammed, 82, and mother Che Ma Abu Bakar, 75, made a 10-hour journey from Alor Setar, Kedah, to Johor, arriving at Hospital Sultanah Aminah here just after dawn yesterday to visit their son.
“Before the training exercise on Thursday, my son called me to say he was about to board the helicopter. We prayed for his safety.
“Not long after, I received shocking news that the helicopter crashed into the sea during the exercise,” Baharom said.
Despite the chaos of the crash, Supt Ahmad, 46, managed to escape the submerged aircraft and was the first to be rescued.
“Some victims were unconscious. We were told he was lucky to remain conscious throughout.
“When we saw him at the hospital, he could still speak to us,” said Baharom, adding that doctors assured the family that he is stable and recovering.
He said Supt Ahmad sustained several injuries, including on his back, fractured ribs, facial swelling and numbness in his legs.
“His face is still swollen but the helmet he wore likely saved him from worse injuries. We are just grateful he is alive – the rest we leave to God,” said Baharom.
He added that Supt Ahmad has four children, aged nine to 16.
Earlier, Bukit Aman Air Operations Force Deputy Commander (Operations) Senior Asst Comm Ahmad Lokman Abdul Hadi visited the crash victims, followed by Iskandar Puteri OCPD Asst Comm M. Kumarasan.
On Thursday, the Eurocopter AS3555 Ecureuil known as “Squirrel” crashed near the jetty during a mock exercise attended by personnel from Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.
