BATU PAHAT: A man clung to his friend's lifeless body for six hours, battling strong currents to prevent the remains from drifting away after their fishing boat capsized in the waters off Batu Pahat, near Sungai Suloh, early this morning.
Muhammad Nizam Salleh, 56, recounted the final moments of his friend, Norhisham Ahmad, 58, who died just 10 minutes after the boat sank about 2am.
"There were four of us aboard, including Norhisham, and two others, Azlan, 34, and Man, 23, who were waiting to cast our nets," said Nizam, a former Masjid Sungai Suloh imam.
"The weather took a dangerous turn just before the accident, forcing us to head back, but the waves were too strong. Fifteen minutes later, our boat began taking on water and sank."
Nizam said he told his friends to wear their life jackets and jump into the sea.
Initially, Norhisham appeared fine, but within 10 minutes, his became weak, he said.
"He became weak… I held him close and guided him to recite the 'syahadah' (declaration of faith), but soon after, he fell silent."
Determined to stay with his friend, Nizam embraced Norhisham's body, refusing to let go.
He tied two flotation barrels to Norhisham's waist and placed a life jacket over his chest while holding his hand.
For six hours, he clung to the Norhisham, ensuring his body would not be swept away by the strong currents.
"I told Azlan and Man to stay awake. We drifted from Parit Balak to Kuala Sungai Ayam. Every time we tried to swim to shore, the tide would push us back."
Although they were only two kilometres from shore, the strong currents made it impossible to reach safety.
"It wasn't until 8am that I saw a fishing platform about 300m away."
"Miraculously, a group of fishermen heard their cries for help and came to our rescue," he said today.
Nizam struggled to contain his grief when recalling the loss of Norhisham, as they had been fishing together since they were six years old.
"We've been going to sea together for as long as I can remember. It breaks my heart to lose him this way."
Norhisham's wife, Noriah Hashim, 56, was devastated upon learning of her husband's death.
"A neighbour informed my children and me of his death. I was in shock and couldn't believe it."
Meanwhile, district police chief Assistant Commissioner Shahrulanuar Mushaddat Abdullah Sani confirmed that a report had been filed regarding the incident.
Investigations are ongoing.