PORT KLANG: Two anglers endured a harrowing experience when they drifted for more than 30 hours after their jet ski capsized. They were rescued by an oil tanker in the waters off Pulau Pintu Gedong here on Wednesday.
Selangor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency director Maritime Captain Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh said the two victims were identified as Shahrul Hisham Mohd Tahir, 50, and Micheal Januarius, 68.
He said an individual lodged a missing persons report following the disappearance of his father, who had gone fishing with a friend on a jet ski on Tuesday, reported Sinar Harian.
The Johor Baru Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) activated a search and rescue operation at 2am.
A forward search base was also established at the Royal Youth Club Selangor Jetty, involving other agencies such as the Fire and Rescue Department, the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), and the Marine Police Force (PPM), he said in a statement on Thursday.
He added that the Selangor Maritime Operations Centre later received information from the Central Region Marine Department at 3.45pm regarding the discovery of the two victims.
An inspection found that an oil tanker had discovered the two victims along with an overturned jet ski at a position 19.8 nautical miles west of Pulau Pintu Gedong.
The two victims were rescued before being taken to the Marine Police Force Jetty at Pulau Indah and arrived safely at 8.35pm, he added.
He said that the incident is believed to have occurred due to damage to the jet ski they were on.
An initial investigation found that the anchor rope had become entangled in the engine components, causing damage to the jet ski used by the two victims.
MMEA advises the maritime community to always exercise caution when at sea by taking safety measures, he added.
He said the public can contact the Selangor state maritime operations centre at 03-31760627 or the emergency line 999 for any information, complaints, or emergency incidents at sea.