Kuala lumpur: Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) lecturer Dr Eliza M Yusup found herself stranded for over 12 hours in the middle of the sea during a diving activity, prompting her to ‘act like a commando’ to survive.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the mother of six from Simpang Renggam, Johor, attributed her survival to a buoyancy control device, which allowed her to float to an island. Despite the ordeal, she remained focused on her children and fought back panic, determined to stay strong.

Eliza, 44, a certified diver, was participating in a fun dive when she assisted a fellow diver who panicked after swallowing water. After helping the woman onto the boat, Eliza continued her dive, but upon resurfacing, she found the boat had drifted away, leaving her stranded.

The incident occurred at 11 am, and by 7.30 pm, Eliza was exhausted, having vomited multiple times from being tossed around in the water. It wasn’t until 11.30 pm that she reached an island, feeling the ground beneath her feet.

The following morning, Eliza explored the island and discovered the word ‘Tulai’, indicating it was a frequented spot. She drank from discarded bottles and sought shelter under a guava tree, though she found no fruit to eat.

At around 7.30 am, she spotted a boat, which ultimately rescued her. Overwhelmed with emotion, Eliza expressed guilt for the trouble caused but was relieved to see her diving instructor again. Despite the harrowing experience, she remains undeterred and plans to dive again in September.

Eliza hopes her experience will remind other divers of the importance of adhering to safe diving practices and not becoming overconfident.