23-10-2023 (SINGAPORE) A woman who disappeared off the coast of Sentosa on Sunday morning (Oct 22) was reportedly trying to assist another kayaker when she encountered strong currents and was swept under, according to a friend who participated in the search operation. Mr. Sim Cher Huey, the founder of Kayakasia, was among those from the kayaking community who volunteered to assist in the search.
According to Mr. Sim’s account shared with CNA, the incident occurred between 9:30 am and 10 am on Sunday near the southern tip of Sentosa, close to a line of blue floating security barriers. He described the location as a challenging spot where the dynamic water currents intersect with stationary barriers.
The male kayaker initially capsized, prompting the female kayaker to come to his aid. Tragically, she also capsized in the process. Mr. Sim explained that both individuals were swiftly carried away by the currents. The group consisted of three individuals who had set out from Sentosa with their own sea kayaks, heading towards the Southern Islands. Coincidentally, another sea kayaker encountered them on the water and joined their journey.
Upon realizing the distress, the remaining group members promptly contacted the Singapore Police Coast Guard for assistance. While the male kayaker was rescued by a passing boat, the female kayaker is still missing. Fortunately, both capsized kayaks were later recovered.
Mr. Sim, leading his group back from the Southern Islands, encountered one of the four sea kayakers at approximately 11:45 am. It was then that he discovered the missing woman was a friend of his. Seeking permission from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), he joined the search operation and informed the woman’s husband about the incident.
Accompanied by one of the sea kayakers, Mr. Sim ventured out to search along the known current paths and potential handholds, such as the anchor chains of tankers or boat tires that someone in the water might cling to. He explained that their familiarity with the currents played a crucial role in their decision to participate in the search. Kayaks also provided the advantage of easily inspecting objects in the water compared to larger vessels utilized by the coast guard and MPA.
The kayak search continued for approximately one-and-a-half hours until the authorities instructed them to return. Mr. Sim expressed his ongoing dedication to the search, mentioning that he continued to look around during another trip he had scheduled for the day.
MPA confirmed that the search operation for the missing kayaker is still ongoing, as stated in their latest update on Monday.
