Muhammad Furqan Mohamed Rashid fell from the main deck of the Panama-flagged African Cardinal on JUne 21 morning, off the coast of California. - MUHAMMAD FARIZ/FACEBOOK
SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): The last time the family of a missing Singaporean sailor saw him was in December 2022, before he set sail again as a second officer on a ship managed by a local company.
When Muhammad Furqan Mohamed Rashid, 25, was back on shore leave, the family of seven would spend whatever precious time they had together.
At 6.30am on Wednesday (June 21), the family got a call informing them that Furqan had fallen overboard somewhere in the Santa Barbara Channel on the way to the Port of Long Beach.
The news is still hard to accept and it feels like a bad dream, said Furqan’s elder brother.
Speaking to The Straits Times, Fathul Islam Mohamed Rashid, 27, said: “Everything is just so hard to believe. A lot of things are still up in the air and there is nothing we can do but wait and hope.”
He added that he last spoke to his brother about a week ago on June 14, when Furqan called to wish him a happy birthday.
All they know now from a representative of Apex Ship Management is that Furqan had fallen from the main deck of the Panama-flagged African Cardinal on Tuesday morning, off the coast of California.
The watchkeeper on board saw the incident and began shouting to alert other crew members. He also threw a lifebuoy into the water.
As the vessel began a frantic search for the sailor, the crew also lodged a report with the US Coast Guard, which activated a rescue helicopter and two boats, as well as a second helicopter later to help find Furqan.
Two nearby cargo vessels also assisted in the operation, but the search was called off after nearly 15 hours, with only the lifebuoy found.
The Straits Times has contacted Apex Ship Management and the US Coast Guard for more information.
Recounting his brother’s love for the job, Fathul said: “Ever since he was little, his passion was always the sea. He dreamed of working on board a ship, and he worked hard to achieve his dream.
“He took up a diploma in nautical studies at Singapore Polytechnic and did his national service as a firefighter in the Singapore Civil Defence Force Marine Division.”
Furqan is yet to be found, but his family members continue to hold on to hope.
Fathul said: “We hope he will come back to us. If he’s still alive, then that will be the best possible outcome, but we will leave it to God’s will.”
