Pulau yu: The captain of the yacht Daisy will never forget his harrowing experience of swimming in the open ocean for nearly 48 hours to survive after his yacht sank in the waters of Pulau Yu last Tuesday. Ahmet Volkan Ata, 52, from Turkiye, said that while he was at sea, he could only swim and would float when he felt tired, all while praying to be found by a fishing boat.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Volkan Ata shared that he was grateful to have been found by a local fishing boat after two days of battling the ocean. He recounted the tense moments when a strong storm hit during the incident, causing the yacht to sink rapidly due to an open window. Despite the chaos, he managed to swim to the surface.

Meanwhile, Ates Demiroren, 42, one of the rescued passengers, swam for over 20 hours and hoped for the safe recovery of their still-missing friend, Eser Demirkol. Demiroren recalled seeing boats pass by without noticing him until he finally reached a fishing boat after swimming about a kilometer.

Terengganu Tourism, Culture, Environment, and Climate Change Committee Chairman Datuk Razali Idris announced that the state government would support the survivors until they reach the Turkish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. He assured that both men are stable but may need further medical observation.

The incident occurred during a voyage the three Turkish men had embarked on to tour from Malaysia back to Turkiye. Unfortunately, the yacht was struck by a storm on Tuesday afternoon and sank in the waters of Pulau Yu. While Demiroren was rescued by local fishermen, Volkan Ata was found nearly 48 hours later. Unfortunately, Demirkol remains missing.