Ten rescued from rough seas after vessel sinks during trip
KUALA TERENGGANU: The assistant skipper of a fishing boat that capsized near Kuala Nerus died shortly after saving the lives of several passengers.
Ahmad Nasaruddin Mohmad Jalil, 37, is believed to have succumbed to exhaustion after helping several passengers when the boat sank about nine nautical miles off Dataran Kuala Nerus at about 9pm while they were out squid jigging.
Boat skipper, Mohd Awais Sa’ari, 39, who is the deceased’s cousin, said the incident occurred in rough seas although there was no storm and the vessel was in good condition.
“An early sign was a large amount of water entering the engine.
“I asked Ahmad Nasaruddin to cut the anchor rope so that I could move the boat to seek help from nearby vessels but it was too late and the boat sank quickly,” he said, Bernama reported.
Mohd Awais said he had earlier advised all 10 participants from Kuala Lumpur, including two women trying squid jigging for the first time, to remain calm and wear life jackets.
After the boat sank, he found his cousin in a weakened state and immediately asked him to hold on, knowing that he could not swim.
“I tried to speak to him but, shortly afterwards, he became unresponsive and was foaming from his mouth. I checked his pulse and realised he had died,” he said.
Mohd Awais said the survivors were adrift for 30 to 40 minutes before help arrived.
He managed to swim about one nautical mile to seek help from a nearby boat.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Firdaus Mohmad Jalil, 47, said his younger brother Ahmad Nasaruddin, who was single, had worked part-time as an assistant skipper during the squid jigging season for the past two years.
His brother, who worked as a technician, was an experienced boatman who frequently went out to sea.
“I was told that my brother managed to save several other passengers before his strength gave out and he was taken onto another boat unconscious,” he said when met at Hospital Sultan Zainal Abidin yesterday.
Kuala Terengganu OCPD Asst Comm Azli Mohd Noor said the victims were brought ashore at Tok Batin Jetty in Kuala Nerus at about 10pm following the rescue.
Three passengers – Faris Ibrahim, 33, Ahmad Danial Iman, 24, and Fatin Fariesya Rohaizan, 26 – suffered injuries.
He said two of them were given outpatient treatment at Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah, while the other was still receiving follow-up treatment.
ACP Azli added that a post-mortem was being conducted on the deceased and investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
