Squid jigging trip turns tragic after boat capsizes off Kuala Terengganu, leaving one dead

KUALA TERENGGANU, July 4 — One person died, three were injured and eight others were rescued after a squid jigging boat capsized about nine nautical miles off Dataran Kuala Nerus last night.

Kuala Terengganu police chief ACP Azli Mohd Noor said in the 9pm incident, the deceased was crew member Ahmad Nasaruddin Mohmad Jalil, 37, while three participants were injured, namely Faris Ibrahim, 33; Ahmad Danial Iman, 24; and Fatin Fariesya Rohaizan, 26.

Boat operator Mohd Awais Sa’ari, 39, and seven other participants survived the incident.

He said all victims were taken to the Tok Batin Jetty, Kuala Nerus at about 10pm. The deceased was sent to Sultan Zainal Abidin Hospital for post-mortem, while the injured were brought to Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital for treatment.

“Further investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the incident,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mohd Awais, who is also the deceased’s cousin, said the incident happened suddenly after he had performed the Maghrib prayer, while the sea was rough but there was no storm.

He said the boat had been in good condition and was used almost daily for squid jigging activities over the past few months.

“An early sign was a large amount of water entering the engine. I asked Ahmad Nasaruddin to cut the anchor rope so that I could move the boat to seek help from nearby vessels, but it was too late and the boat sank quickly,” he said.

He said he had earlier advised all 10 participants from Kuala Lumpur, including two women trying squid jigging for the first time, to remain calm and wear their life jackets.

After the boat sank, he found his cousin in a weakened state and immediately asked him to hold on to him, knowing that he could not swim.

“I tried to speak to him, but shortly after he was unresponsive and foam was coming from his mouth. I checked his pulse and realised he had died.

“I then told the other participants to hold onto the deceased, while I swam about one mile to seek assistance from another boat,” he said, adding that all participants had been adrift for approximately 30 to 40 minutes before help arrived. — Bernama