Prospects of finding diver alive fading but family holds out for miracle
By
Carolyn Quek
The search boat which Mr Jamal was on yesterday passing by the Oliva, the oil tanker where his son, Mr Mohammed Borhan, was carrying out underwater repairs when he disappeared on Tuesday. -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM
'We are very tired because we have been circling round and round. This is a test of our resilience and patience,' Mr Jamal said.
Mr Jamal joined family members, his son's co-workers, and rescuers from the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) and the Police Coast Guard in combing the Singapore Strait and an East Coast anchorage yesterday.
The MPA said eight boats were involved in the search, which was ongoing late last night.
Hourly broadcasts are also being made to all ships in the eastern waters to look out for Mr Mohammed Borhan.
The MPA has asked rescuers in Malaysia and Indonesia to keep a lookout for the 26-year-old, saying he may have been swept into coastal waters off Johor or Batam.
The diver disappeared on Tuesday evening while carrying out underwater repairs to an oil tanker.
As the prospect of finding him dims with each passing hour, his family is hoping for a miracle.
'We hope he has drifted off to somewhere and is still alive,' said his uncle, Mr Nazaimoddin Yusof.
The diver got married last year and his wife gave birth to a baby girl, their first child, last month.
His mother, Madam Radiah Abdullah, said she last saw her son on Monday, when he and his wife broke fast at her Toh Guan Road home.
Mr Mohammed Borhan, who has two sisters and is the eldest of his siblings, took up recreational diving about six years ago, added Madam Radiah, 44.
He liked it so much that he decided to make it his job, said Mr Nazaimoddin.
The diver's father, Mr Jamal, told The Straits Times that he had been at sea since 11am yesterday - on the very same diving boat that Mr Mohammed Borhan took out to sea on Tuesday.
Mr Jamal's search party, which included his son's co-workers from Underwater Contractors, spent most of the day scanning the waters around the East Petroleum A Anchorage.
His son was working on a ship there - the Oliva, a Very Large Crude Carrier vessel - when he disappeared.
The vessel had been at the anchorage since Saturday and was being repaired and re-supplied.
At about 6pm yesterday, a boat carrying Mr Jamal and several other men could be seen circling the Oliva.
While some stayed inside the cabin, others stood at the bow and stern, peering intently at the surrounding waters. One man was also seen perched atop the cabin, looking through binoculars.
Earlier in the day, the searchers expanded their efforts to the waters near Marina Bay, The Straits Times understands.
Even though his family said Mr Mohammed Borhan was 'strong', they were concerned about his job.
'We would tell him to take care because his work can be dangerous,' Mr Nazaimoddin said.
The diver's disappearance has shocked his close-knit family, said his uncle.
After his parents received a call regarding his disappearance at about 8pm on Tuesday, SMS messages were immediately sent out to relatives, imploring them to pray for his safety.
'We did not expect this to happen, but when such things do, I suppose it's fated,' said Mr Nazaimoddin.
