MIRI: Four local fishermen who had been drifting in the sea for five days were found yesterday morning.
All of them, ages 25 to 44, were found floating in a cooler, at about 75 nautical miles from the mouth of Sungai Miri, around 10am yesterday (Feb 4), after their boat sank.
They were spotted by the offshore vessel Ultra Jaya, and after noticing the adrift fishermen, they swiftly lifted them out of the box and into their boat.
They later alerted the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Miri Zone.
According to MMEA Miri director Captain Maritime Mohd Shafie Paing, after receiving the emergency call, their vessel’s KM TABAH was immediately mobilised to the location.
“They were all transferred from Ultra Jaya to KM Tabah and then brought to Marina Jetty.
“The fishermen were given first aid after arriving at the jetty at 6pm, and then transported to Miri Hospital.
“The victims appeared to be in a weak condition due to dehydration,” he said in a statement.
Mohd Shafie added that the fishermen had set off to sea on Jan 29. Unfortunately, their boat was capsized by the strong wave on Jan 30.
