Wednesday, 23 October 2013

Missing teen fisherman found

GEORGE TOWN: A teenage fisherman who went missing for nearly a day after falling into choppy waters has been found alive in Pulau Tikus, a rocky outcrop off Tanjung Bungah, about 12km from where he was feared drowned.

Mohamad Akhmar Mat Zin, 19, had clung to a safety float for 20 hours, braving the waves after the boat he was in with four others capsized off Penaga in Kepala Batas on the mainland on Monday.

A fisherman found Mohamad Akhmar near the rocky formation at 8.30am, brought him to the shore and immediately contacted the police.

I was awake throughout the harrowing ordeal. I thank God I’m alive,” said a fatigued Mohamad Akhmar at the Penang Hospital.

He, however, will not stop fishing for a living but now wants to learn how to swim.

Former Seberang Jaya assemblyman Datuk Ariff Shah Omar Shah, who visited the teenager at the hospital, gave him words of encouragement.

The others in the capisized boat with Mohamad Akhmar were Ridzuan Hashim, 42, Mat Jais Mat, 41, Mamat Basir, 19, and Asraf Rosli, 15.

Mohamad Akhmar was the only one swept away by strong waves while the others were saved by a fisherman nearby.

All five victims are from Kampung Tepi Sungai in Kota Kuala Muda at the Kedah-Penang border.

The youngest of eight siblings, Mohamad Akhmar started to work as a fisherman after completing secondary school.

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