KOTA KINABALU: The tour guides and boat crew who brought a group of tourists to Pulau Mantanani recalled their 16 hours of sea ordeal after their catamaran capsized on June 24.
Jeremiah Liu Chi Hiung, 30, popularly known as Jerry, Lowrance Chong Hon Ket, 26, and Masran Bin Minzan, 32, who work for Mantanani Dream Holidays at a resort in Mantanani Island, said the incident was really an experience to be remembered.
Twenty-two people, including 12 tourists from China, left Pulau Mantanani at 3.30pm on that day as the wind was getting stronger. Halfway back, their boat was taking in water.
The crew then used all types of containers, including a pail to take out the sea water. The passengers were told to move to the right side of the boat to keep it balanced.
Masran, a fisherman and skipper for 16 years, realizing the boat could not be saved, instructed everyone to jump ship. All fenders and life rings were thrown out but tied to the crew and tour guides’ hands. The outboard engine sank first followed by the boat.
The wind became stronger, wave grew taller and the sea current separated them further away at a fast pace from their boat. It was impossible to swim against the sea current at that time.
The tourists started to panick, some cried and the tour guides had a hard time comforting them. Life rings and fenders were offered. Jerry and Lowrance sacrificed their life jackets to two ladies to cling on hopefully to stop them from crying.
“The wave was tall, possible 2-3 metres, I was not able to see anyone each time the wave rises,” said Jerry. Masran started asking for a phone and four tourists immediately took out theirs. He was able to reach 999 which was diverted to Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA). Everyone followed MMEA’s advice by tying to each other so as not to be separated.
Tour guide Kevann Koh from Jass Advanture Holidays, managed to call his family and gave the coordination of their location from his handphone compass.
The sun began to set about 6.30pm. It was still raining, the wind speed did not slow down, the wave was high and the sea current was strong. Some shivered, some cried, that was when the grumbling, blaming and quarreling started.
A few started crying and the tour guides were scolded. The wife of a newly wed couple who came for their honeymoon, comforted her husband by saying, “I will not leave you to die, you have to be strong, we still have a family to establish and I will love you forever!”
Jerry and Lowrance were moved by her words. Eventually, Jerry shouted, “I will bring you home, this is my promise, my name is Jerry.” Lowrance added, “I will not leave you alone, trust me.” The tourists calmed down after that.
At darkness, the rain stopped. Masron saw lights far away and knew that was land but did not know where they would be drifted to as the sea current was still strong. They all saw flares and drones, giving hope that someone was looking for them. They also saw lights from boats and the sound of engine. Everyone, including the China tourists, started shouting ‘Tolong, tolong’. Most blew their whistles but to no avail.
A tourist took out an apple from his waterproof bag and shared among the 22 passengers. “I do not know why, although salty, this is the tastiest apple I have ever eaten,” joked Lowrance.
Jerry and Lowrance led by singing songs which the tourists followed suit; they even caught ‘Bio luminous plankton’ (popularly known in China as ‘blue tears’. It is form of sea algae that glows in blue, easily found at Mantanani Island) that swam by to entertain the tourists.
Every tour guide and crew took turns to watch over the tourists, afraid they might ‘black out’ or faint and calling them to shout out their names every five minutes. The tour guides and crew took turns to pull the tourists towards the lights giving them hope that they saw land and bringing them home. At that time, the sea current was getting weak.
By daylight, they heard the sound of a plane. Watching far, they saw an aircraft with the police logo. Everyone was relieved, they shouted and waved. The aircraft flew a few turns above them and then flew away. About ten minutes, they saw a police boat. Everyone cheered.
“I was surprised to see the mobile hospital waiting for us at the Rampayan jetty when we arrived,” said Jerry.
Bonny Wong, the general manager of Mantanani Dream Holidays, thanked everyone for their unconditional efforts to rescue the victims.
Asked if they will still stay on with their job, Jerry, Lowrance and Masran said yes.
“This was a horrible experience but we are confident with ourselves and we still love our jobs,” they said.
For now, they just want to sleep and stay dry since the company has given them one-week paid leave.