SANDAKAN: Eleven Malaysian boat passengers, including a skipper, were rescued after a harrowing three day fight for survival in the waters off Sibutu, Philippines.
It is understood that the boat carrying six women, two men and three children was traveling from Tawau to Semporna on Wednesday night (29 March) capsized due to bad weather.
One of the victims, Siti Naun Osman, 25, said all of them just sat on the overturned boat for three days hoping to be rescued.
The Maritime Region Headquarters 2 (MAWILLA 2) operations room on Friday received information from the Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre (MRSC) Kota Kinabalu informing that a Tomini Dynasty Merchant Ship had found 11 Malaysians in distress.
The Royal Malaysian Navy’s (RMN) KD Paus that happened to be on patrol near Tanjung Labian waters was immediately deployed.
KD Paus managed to pick up all the victims.
KD Paus took the victims to Tambisan Island and handed them over to the Lahad Datu Marine Police for further action.
The RMN reminded the public to always be aware of personal safety, passengers and property while at sea.
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