Slow and steady: Saripah arriving at the jetty before proceeding to the Duchess of Kent Hospital in Sandakan.
KOTA KINABALU: A sickly woman with serious eye injuries has been rescued via medical evacuation (Medevac) by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency in Sandakan.
Saripah Abdul Karim, 73, who lives in interior Kampung Tundun Bohangin, Kinabatangan, was taken on the marine vessel Halilintar 4 from her village to the Sandakan Maritime Jetty before being sent by road to the Duchess of Kent Hospital.
Sandakan maritime zone director Kpt Maritime Muhamad Suhairy Hussain said they received a distress call at 9.20am on Saturday and arranged for humanitarian assistance.
“The patient has serious eye injuries and also suffered from other chronic illnesses,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Despite the rough sea, the Medevac team with Saripah and her two children arrived at the Sandakan jetty safely at 11.35am, before they headed to the hospital.
Suhairy reminded the maritime community to be extra careful during the rainy season and to take safety precautions such as putting on lifejackets and ensuring their boats are in good condition when going out to sea.
He also advised them to bring the Personal Locator Beacon to indicate their destination and movements, bring enough food and water when at sea, and to avoid activities in areas without telecommunication signals.
The public can report any incident and emergency to the Sandakan maritime operations centre at 089-229 504 or 999.
