Five Malaysian fishermen were rescued by their Vietnamese counterparts on July 9 after nine days drifting on their boat at sea from July 1.

According to Malaysia’s news agency Bernama, the five Malaysian fishermen landed safely in Kuala Dungun Jetty in Dungun district, Terengganu state, at 9am on July 10.

They were all in exhausted state and were hospitalised in Dungun hospital for medical checks.

Captain Kamaruzzaman Awi said they set sail on June 28 and planned to return home on July 1 to celebrate the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festival but the ship’s engine failed because of battery problem.

They were detected by Vietnamese fishermen who helped them repair the engine at 6pm on July 9.

The captain said they had run out of food when the Vietnamese fishermen found them.

VNA