A recent ferry tragedy at Pulau Tioman resulted in the deaths of several people. That tragic day saw a happy family outing turned into a bitter and unforgettable nightmare. Tzu Chi volunteers from four locations came forward to console the living and pray for the dead. Photo：Volunteer Ng Sue Chin embraces the mother of Choong Yoong Kim who burst into tears. 【Photograph by Mok Yee Kin】

Volunteers attended the funeral of Wong Soong Leng. 【Photograph by Low Get Lee】

Render consolation to the sorrowful relatives and friends so that they are relieved and the souls of the deceased will be at rest. 【Photograph by Low Get Lee】

Tzu Chi volunteers lead the relatives to recite prayers for Choong Yoong Kim. 【Photograph by Mok Yee Kin】

The resort island of Pulau Tioman was bustling with tourists during the long Hari Raya holidays. Many people took the opportunity to go for an excursion to share in the festive joy.

However, on 13 October 2007, the engine of a ferry heading for the island caught fire about seven nautical miles from its destination. In great panic, the screaming tourists on board jumped into the sea for their survival. Tragically, seven of them drowned and several others suffered burns. A happy family outing had turned into a disastrous experience in life and death.

Volunteers from Tzu Chi Kluang rushed to the scene immediately upon receipt of the accident. They rendered care and showed their concern to the victims' relatives. They also stayed with them during the recital of Buddhist Sutra and offered them barley drinks to quench their thirst.

We will be by your side

On 17 October, the fifth day of the disaster, the body of Wong Soong Leng from Sungei Way, Selangor, was recovered. Wong's wife, Chen Mei Ying, who had been grieving for days, broke down upon seeing her husband's body and she was consoled by her relatives. She felt much better when the volunteers of Tzu Chi Kluang visited her and joined her in chanting for her deceased husband.

KL Volunteer Kor Chai Wan and her elder brother, Zhi Ming, are neighbours to the parents of Wong Soong Leng. With Volunteer Li Shi Hong, they paid a visit to the deceased's parents at their home in Sungei Way to express their condolences. On that same night, they went with five other volunteers to the Gui Yuan Crematory in Petaling Jaya where they joined the Masters from a Buddhist Temple in the recital of The Sutra of Earth Treasury for the deceased.

When the body of victim Wong Hann Wen was recovered around noon on 18 October, members of Tzu Chi Kluang were at Mersing wharf to assist the relatives and to conduct prayers for him. Hann Wen's father was grateful for the care and assistance rendered. He donated to Tzu Chi and requested for the presence of Tzu Chi members at the Kuantan crematory the following day to chant prayers for his son.

On 19 October, volunteers from Tzu Chi Kuantan prepared dinner for Hann Wen's family. The following day, the volunteers divided themselves into two teams: one to send breakfast to the relatives, and the other, to go to the crematory to chant and to accompany the family when collecting the ashes. Hann Wen's family showed their appreciation to Tzu Chi people by donating again.

At 7 pm of that day, thirty-two relatives of Hann Wen arrived at Tzu Chi Kuantan Office where a prayer was conducted for the deceased.

Continue the relay of caring

On 19 October, the body of Choong Yoong Kim from Shah Alam, Selangor, was recovered. His wife, who was also the elder sister to another victim, Wong Soong Leng, was in deep sorrow as she had lost both her husband and younger brother in the ferry accident. Tzu Chi volunteers stayed and consoled her. They also chanted for her husband, hoping that her grief would be relieved. Choong's family later donated the cash they retrieved from his body to Tzu Chi.

At 9 pm, eleven Tzu Chi volunteers recited prayers for the victims and consoled their relatives. On the morning of 22 October, four volunteers went to Subang Jaya Medical Centre to help the seven-year old son of Choong Yoong Kim, who was still recuperating from the burns he sustained from the same accident, to take leave from the hospital to attend his father's funeral.

Klang Volunteer Li Li Zhen noticed from the news report that the donating members of Tzu Chi, Hong See Tiew and his wife, Teh Siew Lian, were victims of this accident. She then organized local volunteers to call at their residence to pray for them.

On the evening of 17 October, Subang Jaya volunteers, Zhang Xiu Chou and Ma Li Hua, visited two survivors, Qiu Xiao Pei and Choong Yong Yi, at Subang Jaya Medical Centre. With almost two-third of her face under bandage, Qiu Xiao Pei had seemingly calmed down, but she shuddered when reference was made to the ferry accident. This was the first time for her to come into contact with Tzu Chi members.

"Be grateful, you are fortunate to come out of a great misfortune," Tzu Chi volunteers gently consoled Qiu Xiao Pei, and she responded, "Right! I've got to be grateful."