“I Kept Pinching Him To Keep Him Awake” — Mum Recalls Desperate Fight For Son’s Survival

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A mother who survived the Pulau Perhentian boat capsize has spoken out about her family's ordeal and the alleged lack of emergency response that nearly cost her 6-year-old son his life

Speaking to SAYS, Nishata said she was among the 15 passengers who were on a boat that capsized off Pulau Perhentian exactly two months ago on 28 June.

She was with her husband and their son, Sakthivel, on the Terengganu island for her husband's school reunion.

That evening, the four families from the reunion rented a night water taxi to Pulau Perhentian Kecil for dinner and a fire show.

Little did she know the boat ride would claim three lives, and nearly her son's, had she not trusted her own judgement to save him.

Contrary to earlier media reports, Nishata claimed the passengers had requested lifejackets on their return trip to Pulau Perhentian Besar, but the boat skipper allegedly refused, insisting the journey was short

"He assured us, 'You percaya pada saya (Just trust me),'" Nishata recalled.

She explained that the life jackets were stored overhead, but as the waves grew stronger, it became nearly impossible to stand, let alone reach for them.

The group had even pleaded with the skipper to turn back to Pulau Perhentian Kecil for their safety, but he allegedly refused, insisting, "Boleh punya (We can make it)."

Trusting the skipper, Nishata and her family watched as the boat ploughed through waves until a towering one capsized it, hurling all 15 passengers and the skipper into the rough sea.

Amid the chaos, Nishata was separated from her son, who was later rescued by locals and foreign tourists.

When she finally saw him again on land, he lay motionless, foam spilling from his mouth.

Foreign tourists rushed to his aid, performing CPR and providing oxygen from their scuba tanks, but his condition remained critical.

Nishata was in a desperate race against time

As her son struggled to breathe, Nishata ran up against a string of medical and logistical failures.

She claimed that despite being a major tourist destination, Pulau Perhentian Besar lacked proper medical facilities.

"There are three resorts at Pulau Perhentian Besar, but there's no clinic or medical help there," she said.

The oxygen supplies provided by divers proved insufficient, as 12 survivors needed treatment, including three in critical condition.

The nearest clinic was located on a neighbouring island, forcing another perilous journey across the dark, rough sea.

Unwilling to wait for authorities, Nishata and her husband pleaded with a local boat owner to take them across.

Upon arrival, Nishata claimed the clinic had no doctor — only two nurses

"The doctor was on leave, and of the two nurses present, one was a labour and delivery nurse while the other was a general nurse," she said.

Nishata said, fortunately, a senior nurse who happened to be vacationing on the island stepped in to administer the clinic's limited oxygen supply to her son as they awaited updates from the Maritime Enforcement Agency.

Nishata was then informed that authorities would only be able to reach the island in two hours.

"I'm not going to lose my son after surviving the capsized boat. I have to do something," Nishata recalled telling her husband.

They chose to risk the ocean again, braving rough waters to get to Bersut Hospital on the mainland

During the 45-minute journey, her fear was almost realised when the single oxygen tank provided by the clinic nearly ran out.

The tourist nurse, who had volunteered to come on board, was prepared to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

"My son's SPO2 level dropped to around 70, and I kept pinching him to keep him awake," Nishata recalled, describing the terrifying moment.

Upon reaching the mainland, her son was rushed to Besut Hospital before being taken to Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital in Kuala Terengganu, as the former lacked an ICU.

Nishata firmly believes the tragedy could have been prevented if proper safety measures had been in place

"You know it's the sea… the most likely tragedy that can happen is drowning," Nishata said, questioning why no emergency response team was in place to handle such incidents.

She expressed disbelief that such a major tourist destination lacked even basic medical equipment, including automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and oxygen tanks.

She pointed out that tourists who suffer a medical emergency, such as a heart attack, would be left without help if the sea is too rough for a crossing.

The families have also expressed frustration over the pace of the probe into the tragedy. Nishata said she and the other victims have been left unsettled, as they are often told that the case remains under investigation.

"The pain remains, but what hurts even more is watching people continue to visit Pulau Perhentian and take boats without a second thought," she added.

Determined to prevent others from suffering the same fate, the families hope their story will drive real change, so their tragedy does not become just another statistic.

Nishata also questioned the legality of boat rides at night, as locals claimed they were prohibited and a disaster waiting to happen.

When contacted by SAYS, an investigating officer confirmed the case is still under investigation.