Skipper remembers ordeal at sea

The National Main Stories

By SYLVESTER WEMURU
THE lone survivor of the sea piracy attack on Jan 13 at Madang’s Tabali Point says he has lost all his passengers and does not know where they are now.
Ismiel Simea, 20, from Madang’s Raicoast, was the skipper of the 23-ft boat with 40 horse power engine that was held up by six armed men in the open sea.
The pirates took off with their boat and their belongings after they were forced to jumped into the sea.
Simea recalled that it was at around 3pm when he left Madang town with seven passengers for Saidor.
He said while they were travelling towards Tabali Point, they saw another 23ft boat, also with a 40-horse powered engine, some distance away signalling them to stop.
It was about 5pm.
Simea said when the boat approached them, he saw a fat man with beard while the others were masked.
“I told my passengers that the men were pirates and told them to lie on the floorboard of the boat as I tried to take us away from the pirates,” he said.
“I tried to speed away but the load on my boat made it too heavy.
“So they (pirates) came over to my boat.
“I tried my best and called for help but no one came to help.
“When their boat went on top of my boat, the six pirates ordered us to jump into the sea.
“Three of the pirates boarded my boat while the other three went on their boat.
“My friends and I, all men, joined hands and tried to find our way to get to shore.
“While we were struggling for some hours, the wind became stronger and the sea level began to rise and the tide separated us.
“We were swept away in different directions but I knew that if I followed the tide, I would not make it ashore, so I swam against the tide.
“I’m not sure how my passengers went.
“I tried my best to swim ashore but as the sun set and the moon appeared, I couldn’t swim anymore.
“I was still out in the open sea.
“As I watched the sunset, I was feeling very weak and I just prayed that help would come.
“While floating, I heard the sound of a boat coming my way.
“Too weak to shout anymore, I just prayed that this was the boat that would come to help me.
“The boat approached me and on that boat was a doctor.
“When they saw me, they helped me and the doctor helped me to Basamuk where he told the health workers to attend to me.”
Simea said early Saturday morning, policemen from Madang were informed about the incident and went to Basamuk to take him to Modilon Hospital for treatment.
He thanked God and everyone who helped ensure that he was safe and alive.
Madang commander acting Superintendent Mazuc Rubiang said one body was found on Jan 15 at sea at Pik Island by the locals and the body was at the Modilon Hospital mortuary.
He said the deceased was identified as Pang Labi, 17, from Yemis, who was doing his grade 7 at Saidor Primary School, as confirmed by relatives.
He said the others still missing were identified as:

  • CLIFFORD Buniaweing, 30, from Tarawai Island in East Sepik;
  • KASKIN Supera, 47, from Sor Village, Saidor;
  • SIMON, 48, from Siwit village, Saidor;
  • MAI Nafa-Tipang, a primary school teacher from Nayudo;
  • PASTOR Martin Honeringhu, 48, from Sevan village Naiyudo;
  • JOHN Hetaningke, 29, a Grade 11 student from Saidor Seconary from Sevan village; and,
  • TEXAS Gamarak, 34, from Gorowa village.

Rubiang said this was one of the worst act of sea piracy that he had heard of while working as a commander.
According Nayudo local level government president Senuka Kaku, people from his electorate and his office had been out at sea looking for their missing group.
He said despite their unsuccessful attempts, their search will continue.
Meanwhile, Rubiang also added that there was another at of piracy at Ramu River where four bodies had been recovered and police were yet to confirm the location of the survivors.
“I want the public to help the police and report those who are involved in such activities,” he said.