VICTIM: The only fatality in the crash, 57-year-old grandfather Amin Ahmad, had given his family the right instructions on what to do till help arrived. -- AZIZ HUSSIN

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Sea water had flooded their 14.8m-long fibreglass cabin cruiser when they were heading back to Loyang on Thursday night and the boat sank within minutes.

The Proteus OMS went under vertically. But before it was fully submerged, those onboard slipped on life jackets.

Mr Amin Ahmad, the 57-year-old grandfather of two of the three young girls onboard, took charge, yelling out instructions to his family.

He told his son to take care of everyone. Then, he kept blowing on the whistle on his life jacket, hoping to catch the attention of crews on passing boats.

The choppy waters split the family into two groups - eight huddled together, clinging onto one another, while, 1km away, the other four held on to a life buoy.

Mr Amin's whistling finally caught the attention of an Indonesian supply boat which ferries provisions from shore to big ships.

The Sea Kestrel alerted the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA), which called in the Police Coast Guard (PCG).

The crew of Sea Kestrel began fishing out the group of four - who included Mr Amin - from the water.

A PCG boat arrived minutes later and found the other group with the use of night-vision devices.

Senior Station Inspector (SSI) Mohamed Soib Omar said those in the group were 'grabbing onto each other' tightly. The adults kept two young girls, who were crying, in the centre to protect them.

The two girls were the first to be pulled to safety.

Next out was a 36-year-old woman who was six months pregnant. Pulled out of the water, she told the officers: 'Thank you, thank you.'

SSI Mohamed, 49, said: 'They were so weak, they could not help us to help them. We had to use all our strength to pull them up.'

The officers had to move quickly for fear that those still in the sea would lose their grip and be swept away.

SSI Mohamed said: 'Luckily, one of the men (the boat owner) knew what to do. He told them to hold on to each other and not let go, or they could have been swept 2km or 3km away, given the strong currents.'

Once the whole group was rescued, they were given hot coffee and jackets to keep warm. They also switched off the boat's air-conditioning.

The shivering relatives were 'in shock', but they pointed to the other group and told the police of Mr Amin's heart condition.

A second PCG boat transferred Mr Amin from the Sea Kestrel and sped back to shore where medical staff were waiting.

Staff Sergeant Yussrinal Nasir, 30, who was on the second PCG boat, said Mr Amin was unconscious but had a pulse and was still breathing.

However, paramedics who attended to him at Marina South Pier 10 minutes later found he was dead.

Staff Sgt Yussrinal said: 'We took the shortest time possible to get to shore, but our greatest regret was we still couldn't get him back in time.'

Seven of the 11 survivors - including the three young girls - were taken to Singapore General Hospital.

All have been discharged, except a 53-year-old woman, the boat owner's wife, who was warded for observation.

She is said to have swallowed too much sea water - a condition which could affect her health, such as developing kidney problems.

According to a close family friend, the pregnant woman was kicked in her abdomen during the struggle in the sea.

But she refused to be admitted to hospital and attended Mr Amin's funeral yesterday.

As for the $45,000 boat?

It still lies on the seabed, 50m below sea level.

The owner has been told by the MPA to remove it.

joolin@sph.com.sg

tansle@sph.com.sg