Straits Times 8 Dec 07;
A COUPLE on a Sunday morning outing at Lower Seletar Reservoir last May got into difficulties when their kayak went beyond the safety boundary and capsized.
Mr Khoka Mohammed Burhan, 32, drowned after helping his wife, Madam Norliza Yahya, 27, get back into the boat safely.
A coroner's court heard yesterday that the couple's kayak had strayed into an area of the reservoir off the Orchid Country Club golf course meant only for certified canoeists.
Yesterday's inquiry into Mr Khoka's death was told that, before the couple set off in their kayak, a People's Association staff had briefed them on how to stay within the safety area.
They were also given life vests to wear.
When the couple realised that they hadgone beyond the boundary, they tried to turn back but their kayak overturned.
Although Mr Khoka managed to turn the canoe over and help his wife back on board, he had trouble getting in himself.
Then, when his wife had difficulty paddling and moving the kayak back to shore, he started pushing
it from the rear while still in the water himself.
The court was told that Madam Norliza, a laboratory technician, had heard her husband call out for her.
When she turned around, she saw him lagging behind, gesturing and struggling in the water.
While trying desperately to turn the kayak back towards her husband, Madam Norliza noticed his floating life vest, but he was missing.
Divers found her husband's body the next day. In recording a verdict of misadventure, State Coroner Ronald Gwee said the drowning was accidental.
Misadventure, says court of canoeist's death
Zul Othman, Today Online 8 Dec 07;
What started out as a leisurely paddle on the scenic Lower Seletar Reservoir quickly turned into tragedy for Mr Khoka Muhammed Burhan. The 32-year-old quality assurance engineer drowned in the presence of his wife after their canoe capsized.
The Coroner's Court heard that on May 27, at about 11am, Mr Khoka, who was an Indian citizen and Singapore permanent resident, had hired a double-seater canoe from the People's Association (PA) Water-Venture facility at the reservoir. He was with his wife Mdm Noorliza Yahya, 27, a lab technician at the United World College.
It was believed to be their second visit to the facility. The novice canoeists strayed out of the beginners' zone and into an area off the Orchid Country Club golf course, which was meant for experienced canoeists. The couple then lost control of the canoe and it capsized.
Mr Khoka managed to turn it upright and helped his wife to climb back into it. But he himself was unable to get back into it as the vessel kept tilting at each attempt. Mdm Noorliza then tried to paddle the canoe to shore, with her husband pushing the craft from behind.
But after a while, he was believed to have grown tired and began to lag. When Mdm Noorliza turned around to save him, she found only his life vest floating in the water.
At 12.20pm, the PA was alerted and launched a safety boat to search for the couple.
Mdm Noorliza was spotted on the bank about 10 minutes later. The Singapore Civil Defence Force's Disaster Assistance Rescue Team was activated and it deployed two amphibious vehicles to search for Mr Khoka in the waters off the Orchid Country Club, while police officers combed the banks on foot.
Mr Khoka's body was found the next morning about 10m from shore, floating in a standing position with face submerged and fists clenched.
On Friday, State Coroner Ronald Gwee accepted the contents of the investigation and recorded a verdict of misadventure, saying Mr Khoka's death was "unintentional and accidental".
While investigators were unable to ascertain if Mr Khoka was a competent swimmer, the evidence suggested Mr Khoka made every effort to save his wife. While Mr Khoka's wife had not seen him unfasten his life vest, the Court heard that he could have removed it himself or it could have come off while he was struggling. Investigators said the life jacket could not have come off by itself.
Mr Khoka's death occurred two weeks after the PA outlet opened on May 13. It was the first fatality at a reservoir since water sports were introduced at such locations in 2004. New safety precautions — including red out-of-bound zone markers, prominent signs explaining safety procedures, and regular powerboat patrols — have been implemented at all seven PA Water-Venture outlets.
