BESUT: A university student was found drowned and 14 others were rescued in time when the boat they were onboard capsized off the coast here today.
The victim, Nurnasibah Husna Ibrahim, 21, from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), was believed to have been trapped under the overturned boat in the incident at 12.20pm.
Six survivors suffered light injuries and were given outpatient treatment and two others suffered back injuries and were warded at the Besut Hospital.
District police chief Superintendent Mohd Zamri Mohd Rowi said another boat operator came to the rescue of the other 14 as they were floating.
“All were wearing life-jackets as required by the authorities,” he told reporters here today.
Zamri said their boat had developed engine problem and stalled before being hit by strong waves which threw everyone over board into the sea. He said the 15 students, aged between 20 and 21, participated in a leadership programme in Pulau Perhentian yesterday.
He said they were from Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK), UMS, UiTM Kelantan and Politeknik Mara Kelantan.
Zamri added that they were among 59 other universiti students who attended the leadership programme which was first held at the UMK several days ago before the group spent a night in Pulau Perhentian.
Meanwhile, the Higher Education Ministry expressed its condolences to Nurnasibah’s family on the incident.
“It is a very sad and unfortunate incident caused by a broken motor shaft near the boat’s engine which forced the boat to lose control and capsize.
“The incident occurred when the students were attending a programme conducted by a non-governmental organisation,” the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday evening.
The ministry had also had ordered UMS to immediately notify the student’s family following the incident and instructed the university to render any kind of welfare and assistance to the victim’s family to help them through this difficult times and grief.
The ministry said Nurnasibah’s remains would will be buried at her hometown in Pasir Puteh tonight.