‘I Had To Act Like A Commando’, Says Lecturer Stranded At Sea

BATU PAHAT, July 3 (Bernama) -- Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) lecturer Dr Eliza M Yusup, who was stranded for over 12 hours in the middle of the sea during a diving activity on Saturday, said she had to ‘act like a commando’ to survive.

The mother of six children, who hails from Simpang Renggam, Johor, said her only lifeline during the ordeal was the buoyancy control device, which allowed her to float to an island. 

“I am a lecturer, but that night I had to act like a commando. I fought back the panic and kept telling myself to stay strong, knowing I could get through it. All I could think about was my children,” she told Bernama today.

Eliza, 44, a certified diver, said she was participating in a fun dive activity and had been assisting a female diver who panicked after swallowing water and was unable to equalise pressure.

She brought the woman to the surface and helped her onto the boat, then continued diving after receiving the green light from the boat operator.

“But I did not find anyone. When I resurfaced, the boat was already far away. I waved and shouted, but no one saw me,” she said.

Eliza said the incident happened at 11 am, and by 7.30 pm, she was exhausted and had vomited several times after being thrown around in the water. It wasn’t until 11.30 pm that she felt her feet hit something and realised she had reached an island.

The next morning, while exploring the island, Eliza said she came across the word ‘Tulai’ written somewhere and a bench, which affirmed her thinking that the island was frequented for water activities.

“I drank water from discarded mineral water bottles and sat under a guava tree, while also looking for the fruits, but found none,” said the lecturer who has been serving at UTHM’s Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering since 2008.

Around 7.30 am, Eliza said she spotted a boat and waved and shouted, only feeling relieved once they pulled her aboard.

“They gave me water and biscuits. But the one person I was waiting to see was my diving instructor, and I broke down in tears when I saw him. Not because of the trauma, but because I felt guilty for troubling everyone,” she said, adding that the experience has not discouraged her from diving again, with her next trip planned for September.

She hopes her experience will serve as a lesson to other divers, not to be overconfident and to always adhere to safe diving principles.

-- BERNAMA