Regatta’s Tragic Turn: Missing Rower Khairul Never Liked Water Activities, Can't Swim - Uncle
KUCHING, Oct 19 (Bernama) -- Muhammad Khairul Hisyam Kasturi, 23, one of the five rowers who went missing following the capsize of a regatta boat during training in the Sarawak River yesterday, is said to have disliked water activities since childhood and not a good swimmer.
Revealing the life-long aversion to water, his uncle Mohd Ridzuan Aban, 64, said what was sad was that the tragedy also unfolded after Muhammad Khairul had just gotten engaged to his school sweetheart Najwa Anizan, 22, last Sunday.
“I only learnt that Khairul was participating in the regatta after receiving this sad news, he has no history of boating and is not used to going to sea, so to be honest I was surprised when I found out that he was a rower in the boating event because he is not good at swimming.
“This is his first regatta competition and yesterday’s practice was his third practice... if I had known from the beginning that he was joining the regatta, I would have stopped him because this sport is high risk, not to mention when he is not adept at swimming,” he said.
Speaking at the search and rescue operation centre (SAR) at Royal Bay Commercial Centre here today, Mohd Ridzuan, who is from Kampung Rebak in Asajaya, said he received news of the incident at about 7 pm yesterday through a call from the victim’s mother.
He described the eldest of two brothers as quiet but cheerful and responsible towards his family.
“Not long before we just suffered a misfortune... the victim’s mother and I had just lost our sister about 20 days ago, and this tragedy made us lose another beloved family member in less than a month.
“His fiancee was also shocked to the point that she fainted ... she was only able to hug Khairul’s shirt, so we pray that what has happened is God’s will and (the outcome) rests with Him,” said Mohd Ridzuan.
A total of five regatta rowers were reported to have been feared drowned at around 3.50 pm yesterday in the Sarawak River near Royal Bay Commercial Centre along Jalan Buruh Bintawa here while undergoing training when their boat sank in the wake of choppy waves from a fishing vessel coming from the opposite direction.
In the incident, only 11 of the 16 regatta participants, who were also Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit (UKPS) personnel, managed to save themselves after their boat sank.
The other four missing victims are Mohamad Ikhmal Sama’ail, 34, Majurie Maharuf, 32, Mohd Afiq Isyamudin Asaari, 26, and Mohamad Khairul Bidin, 26.
The rowers were undergoing training for the highlight of the Sarawak-Kuching 2024 Waterfront Regatta Festival which will be held from Nov 1-3.
-- BERNAMA
