KUCHING: The tragic passing of Majurie Maharif, one of five victims of the regatta training accident last Friday, has left his fiancée Nurainna Arbi devastated.
His untimely death has left a void in her that is impossible to fill, with a wedding that will now never take place.
The 30-year-old from Kampung Penakub Ulu, Mukah, stood outside the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) mortuary, her eyes heavy with grief and a tissue pack clutched in her hands as she awaited the post-mortem results.
Recalling their last conversation, she said Majurie had texted her on Friday at around 3pm, just after Friday prayers, to tell her he was heading out for regatta training on the Sarawak River.
“We texted each other every day, and every time there was training, he would let me know,” she said.
Their plans for the future were clear. They had been engaged in August, with a wedding set for December this year.
“In our chat, he said he wanted to meet me in early November and told me to wait for him,” Nurainna shared, her voice trembling.
Majurie’s remains will be brought back to Balingian, Mukah, for burial.
He was one of five men whose bodies were recovered yesterday (Oct 20) after three days of intense search efforts.
The other victims were Muhammad Khairul Hisham Kasturi, 23, Mohd Afiq Isyamudin Asaari, 26, Mohamad Khairul Bidin, 26, and Mohammad Ikhmal Sama’ail, 34.
Kuching police chief ACP Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah in a press conference, said that the bodies were found between 6.16am and 7.09am.
“The bodies were taken to the mortuary and they have been identified by the next of kin, who were present.
“It is confirmed that these five bodies are the missing paddlers in the regatta training accident on Oct 18,” he said.
Following identification and post-mortem procedures, the bodies will be released to their families and they will be buried in their respective hometowns.
The incident occurred last Friday during a regatta training session near the Royal Bay Commercial Centre in Bintawa.
A boat carrying 16 participants, all members of the Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit (UKPS) under the Premier’s Department, capsized at 3.47pm after waves from a passing fishing vessel caused it to flood and sink.
While 11 individuals swam to safety, five went missing.
Authorities were notified at 4.20pm, prompting a large-scale SAR operation involving 13 agencies.
