KLANG – “The boat we were on flipped over and filled with water before it sank.”
This was how 17-year-old Chang Yan Qin Alvin described the incident.
He survived the capsizing of the boat that resulted in three fatalities in the waters of Tanjung Harapan yesterday.
Chang is one of six people who survived the boat incident, while two others are still missing.
He said that the accident happened during a test run of the boat, which made a U-turn roughly 30 minutes after leaving the Royal Selangor Yacht Club (RSYC).
“The incident happened very quickly when the relatively fast-moving boat suddenly overturned, and in less than 10 seconds, water had entered all compartments of the boat.
“The situation inside the boat became chaotic, but I saved myself by trying to swim out before managing to sit on top of the overturned boat,” he said when met by reporters at the search and rescue location, Selangor Maritime Headquarters, in Tanjung Harapan today.
Chang said he could only scream for help after realising other passengers were not visible and after about five minutes of holding on to the boat, another boat approached and rescued him.
He said the fishermen in the boat then helped contact the authorities for assistance.
“I understand that this was the second test run for the boat, and before this, the boat was found to be in a good condition,” he said, expressing sadness over the tragedy.
Three individuals, including a child, died, while a married couple is still missing.
The victims are three-year-old Darren Gan, Cheu Son Hin, 50, and Fong Yong Sen, 29, while the missing victims have been identified as Gan Hon Tat, 32, and his wife Careen Man, 29, both from Klang Utama. – June 7, 2025