‘I want to survive’: Malaysian commando adrift in South China Sea for 15 hours

Senior Seaman Michael Coccon Johen, 27, found himself drifting in the South China Sea for 15 hours after a free-fall parachute training exercise went awry on August 12. Johen was among six Malaysian navy special forces personnel who landed in the sea after missing their designated landing site at Pulau Layang-Layang, off Sabah’s coast.

During the drill's second jump at 4.30pm, a sudden change in weather affected their visibility, causing their parachutes to stop moving forward. Johen, despite the challenging conditions, remained calm and waited for assistance from navy safety vessels. However, the waves were too high for the vessels to reach him. After an hour, Johen kicked off his shoes and used the compass from his parachute to navigate towards the island.

He could see navy ships searching for them, but it was getting darker. At around 10pm, he spotted a flare set off by a fellow commando to draw attention to their plight. Johen, the only survivor, continued swimming towards the island until about 5am, when he decided to rest. He managed to sleep until 7am the following morning when he was finally rescued by a navy vessel.

Johen's survival can be attributed to his training and the prayers of his loved ones. He expressed his gratitude to the navy for rescuing all six personnel, emphasizing that he would continue to participate in jumps after this incident. Johen's wife, Law Lee Eing, recounted her anxiety upon learning her husband was missing and the subsequent relief when she received a call confirming his rescue.

State Deputy Transport Minister Henry Harry Jinep praised Johen's determination, courage, mental strength, and commando training, hoping he becomes a role model for the younger generation.