Captained by a Turk, an individual swam tirelessly for forty hours following the Malaysian vessel's sinking incident.
In a harrowing 40-hour ordeal, Turkish captain Ahmet Volkan Ata was rescued from the turbulent waters near Pulau Yu Island off the Malaysian coast after his boat, the Daisy, capsized during a fierce storm on July 29, 2025.
The boat, which was en route from Malaysia to Turkey, was carrying Ata, Ates Demirören, and Eser Demirkol. The vessel was caught in a storm during the night, and despite efforts to manage the sails and control the boat, it rapidly took on water and capsized.
Ata managed to swim against strong currents for nearly 40 hours before being rescued by a fishing boat heading to Thailand's Pattani region. His fellow crew member, Ates Demirören, was also rescued by local fishermen.
Unfortunately, Eser Demirkol remains missing, and a 14-day investigation concluded without finding any traces of him. The search and rescue efforts involved Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency sea and air assets, diving teams, and remotely operated underwater vehicles.
Areas covering hundreds of nautical square miles around the suspected sinking location and where survivors were found were scoured, but Demirkol was not found. The search was officially called off after 14 days without new leads.
Ata has publicly recounted his ordeal and survival efforts during and after the investigation. He expressed gratitude towards Malaysian authorities, Terengganu Hospital, and the Turkish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur for their support. He also stated his readiness to participate in search and rescue operations for his missing friend, Eser.
The Daisy had departed from an Island in northern Australia on April 28, making stops in Indonesia and Malaysia before preparing to sail from Tioman Island toward Thailand. Ata had carefully monitored and saved weather reports prior to departure, but strong currents continued to persist even after the storm subsided, pushing the men further from shore.
The men survived the first hours after midnight without injury despite the violent conditions. It was not until the third day that Ata was rescued, while Ates was rescued on the same day. Ata was eventually reunited with Ates at the hospital, but Eser was still missing.
The search for Eser Demirkol continues, and hopes remain high that he will be found safe and sound. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of the sea and the importance of preparedness and caution when navigating through stormy waters.
In light of the boat accident involving the Daisy, the vessel en route from Malaysia to Turkey that capsized, general news outlets are reporting extensive coverage of the car-accidents section, highlighting the tragic fact that crew member Eser Demirkol remains missing. Meanwhile, sports news also touch upon the story, with Turkish captain Ahmet Volkan Ata expressing his readiness to participate in future search and rescue operations for his friend, hinting at the idea that such initiatives might be a new sports endeavor for him.
