KOTA KINABALU: A Royal Malaysian Navy personnel recounted the harrowing experience after the CB204 combat vessel lost contact with its escort vessel and became adrift in heavy sea condition for nearly 30 hours.
“It felt like as if our ship was inside a blender machine when we were hit by three-metre high waves,” said LK Kom Sulhajji Daah.
Sulahjji, 34, said he and his six colleagues could only pray to God and was prepared to accept whatever fate that would befall them after being adrift at sea since Sunday.
According to the local boy from Tawau, he had almost given up hope for any rescue attempts, but resolved to keep his spirits and faith high as he thought about his family, especially his two sons, seven-year-old Adam and five-year-old Aidil.
“Thinking of our family and loved ones kept our spirits high as we continued praying for a rescue to be made. We have never faced with such challenge and experience before.
“The weather was so bad and the waves so strong and huge that it tossed our ship up and down, and rolled from left to right. It went on and on as if it will never stop,” he recounted, when meet at the Sepanggar Naval Base yesterday.
Sulhajji was among seven crew members of the CB204 combat vessel that had been adrift at sea for 30 hours after they lost contact with escort ship KD Paus on October 5.
The other crew members were Lieutenant Azri Bakar, Ince Ak Evin, Nor Azuan Ariffin, Mohd Azhry Maani, Charles Christopher Ak Mani and Steven Hudson Ak Miso.
Sulahjji added that things began to turn from bad to worse when water started entering their ship and everybody started panicking, fearing that they would go down with their combat vessel.
“Lieutenant Azri managed to keep us calm and with his leadership, we were able to return safely to our family,” he said with relief etched on his face.
Sulahjji’s wife, Ahainie Maidin, 37, when met, said she was relieved and thankful to God Almighty for her husband’s safe return.
“Thank God my husband and his colleagues returned safely without any unwanted incident. We would also like to express our gratitude to the Royal Malaysian Navy and those involved in bringing our husbands back home,” she said.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Azri said sharing a loaf of bread, a couple of apples and a carton of mineral water with his men was an experience he would never forget.
“We took turns to eat to keep our energy up after being adrift at sea for more than 30 hours. The situation got worse when they were forced to stay on deck in rough sea conditions and level four waves reaching up to three meters high,” he said.
According to Azri, they only packed limited food supply as the trip from the Sepanggar Naval Base to Layang-Layang, one of the five stations in the area where the navy operate, would only be a one-day trip before they encountered unexpected engine problem off Mengalum island.
“For two days we shared the food among our crew until we were rescued by KD Ganas,” he said.
Azri said the loss of contact happened off Mengalum at around 11.15 am on Sunday due to bad weather.
“The radio and navigation system, which are linked specifically to the navy line, had broken down. All that was functioning was the telecommunication device for other ships, vessels near the area.
“I continued to send out distress signals and only managed to get in touch with an international cruise vessel that was within our signal range at 12.30 pm on Monday,” he added.
Azri said he informed the international cruise vessel of their location and requested them to contact the nearest navy ships within their area.