LABUAN: The district Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) found an unmanned fishing boat in waters off Tanjung Kubong here this afternoon.
It is believed that the skipper had fallen off the boat and was rescued by fishermen, 20 minutes after MMEA made the discovery.
Labuan district maritime director Captain Che Adnan Md Isa in a statement said their operation room received a call at 1.30pm about the fishing boat going out of control as its engine was still running and the boat was unmanned.
“A patrol team went to the location and found the boat at 2.10pm, but it has stopped spinning after running out of fuel. A search was conducted in the surrounding areas on the possibility that the boat skipper has fallen into the sea.
“At 2.30pm, fishermen nearby reported of rescuing a man named Alias Ahmad, 59, believed to have fallen from the vessel and he was brought to the shore before being transferred to the district hospital,” he said in the statement, adding that the victim was in a weak but stable state.
Che Adnan reminded the public, in particular anglers and fishermen operating small boats, to make thorough preparations before going out to sea with the current unpredictable weather, and especially to go out with partners.