IPOH: Sixteen-year-old Nur Qistina Awliya Mohd Azinoor was in school when she was informed of the death of her mother.
"My friends called me to the teacher's room and said I had to be patient. When we arrived in the room, all the teachers were already gathered," she told reporters outside the Forensics Department of Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, here tonight.
There, the teachers gently broke the news that her mother, Petty Officer TNL Noor Rahiza Anuar, 39 had been killed in today's helicopter crash in Lumut.
Nur Qistina Awliya and her twin sister are students at SMK Pengkalan TLDM in Lumut.
Besides the two, Noor Rahiza leaves behind two other children, aged 15 and 6.
Nur Qistina Awliya said they last met their mother earlier this morning.
Her uncle brought her to see their mother's body at HRPB.
She said her mother's body appeared intact.
"Only her jaw was broken," she said.
"We didn't have much time lately with mother because she was busy with Navy day. Sometimes she would leave in the morning and come back late at night"
She added that her mother was the 'most excited' to take photos during the recent Hari Raya celebrations.
"Papa said look at your mum, why is she so excited? Then she replied - who knows it might be my last. Then the photo can be kept as a memory," she said.
She said her mother was fond of buying clothes for her and her siblings, especially during festivities.
"I will keep this year's Raya clothes," she added.
Earlier today, two armed forces helicopters crashed following a mid-air collision over the naval base in Lumut.
All 10 crew members on board both helicopters died.
The helicopters collided during a mid-air manoeuvre in a flypast training for the RMN's 90th anniversary celebration.
The RMN has established an investigation board to probe the incident.