MIRI: Three local fishermen reported missing after their boat capsized in rough sea conditions on July 19 were rescued on Saturday (July 22), exhausted and dehydrated.
They were found floating without food and water after their boat sunk in the face of strong winds and bad weather.
Zaini Jana, 43, Annuar Amin, 54, and Junaidi Nyamin , 70, were found at 10.15 am Saturday morning by offshore workers at Helang Platform, 32 nautical miles northwest off Kuala Baram.
“All three of them were discovered floating inside two orange-coloured ice boxes,” said Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Miri director Maritime Capt Mohd Shafie Paing
“They appeared to be exhausted and suffering from mild dehydration,” he added.
All three were subsequently airlifted to Miri Hospital for medical attention.
Meanwhile, the search and rescue operation for another missing fisherman from another boat, identified as Masni Jana, 60, will resume today (23 July).
The boat, which Masni was in with two other fishermen, both of whom were subsequently rescued, had also sunk the same day in a separate location.