Family still reeling from loss of breadwinner
KOTA KINABALU: It was a sombre Hari Raya Aidiladha for a family who lost its patriarch, and whose youngest child is now battling for his life against severe burns at the hospital.
Jafar Janidil, 61, and his son Mohamad Nasaruddin, 10, were among five victims involved in the explosion of a petrol-laden boat in Kudat on Thursday.
The child’s elder sister, Siti Murni, 23, said her mother passed out three times during her husband’s burial yesterday.
Her four other siblings were in Kudat to accompany the mother.
“Nasaruddin’s body is swelling. He received blood transfusions and wound dressings at the hospital this morning,” said another brother, Mohd Saharuddin, 21, when met at Likas Women and Children’s Hospital here.
Siti said they were also informed by the hospital that the boy had suffered 60 per cent burns on his body and had to be sedated.
She said the boy was calling out weakly for his father before he was sedated.
“He witnessed the incident, including how our father died on the boat. Luckily, our elder brother, Mohd Kamarudin, who was sitting at the front of the boat, rescued Nasaruddin ,”
Kamarudin suffered minor injuries on his right foot.
Jafar had been delivering petrol supplies to villagers on Banggi island for the past three months.
Another critically-burnt victim, Azmain Nawali, 45, was at Queen Elizabeth Hospital here. Another victim, Sahlan Ashadan, 27, died.
A Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency spokesman said initial investigations revealed that a petrol drum had been leaking when the men were moving the cargo.
“The petrol could have splashed into the engine room and caused the explosion. “The engine of the boat was still running when they were unloading,” he said.