LANGKAWI: “Thank you brother thank you, you have saved a lot of lives today,” those were the unforgettable words uttered to a boat operator who pulled to safety passengers of a ferry which caught fire on Monday soon after leaving the Kuah Ferry Terminal here for Kuala Perlis.
Mohd Faizal Ashari, 33, said that during the incident he
was chatting with his friend at
a shop in Marble Jetty, a passenger jetty to Tuba Island and Dayang Bunting Island, located less than 400 metres from the scene.
He said when the ferry left the Kuah Ferry Terminal, he sensed something was amiss when he saw black smoke coming out of it.
“Based on my experience, I knew that the smoke was not usual smoke coming out of a ferry engine. I quickly ran towards my boat, and together with a friend, we managed to arrive at the scene within five minutes.
“My boat was the second boat that reached the ferry, the first boat carried teachers from Kampung Lubuk Cempedak in Tuba Island to Pekan Rabu in Kuah,” said Mohd Faizal who operates island hopping tours at Dayang Bunting Island here yesterday.
Mohd Faizal said during the rescue, several boats also arrived to help transport passengers to safety.
“When my boat was full with 14 people, I sent them to the Kuah Ferry Terminal, then I heard three explosions coming from the ferry.
“I am glad that I have saved lives and the passengers
have repeatedly thanking me,” said the father of one. – Bernama
