TANJUNG TOKONG, PENANG (21 November 2018) – The RMSIR race office was notified of an emergency situation which occurred around 2.30pm during today’s inshore races for the 2018 Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta (RMSIR).
Steve Lonie, a crewmember on the boat ‘Lady Bubbly’ collapsed on the deck of the boat during the race and was promptly given CPR by his fellow crewmembers.
The regatta organisers initiated their emergency response plan and called for an ambulance to be on standby at Straits Quay while regatta security marshal, ASP Sarebjit Singh of the Marine Police (Royal Malaysia Police) despatched a police rib at sea to provide emergency assistance.
The 57-year-old Australian sailor was still being given CPR when the boat arrived at the Straits Quay marina and the ambulance medics performed emergency medical assistance before taking him to the Penang General Hospital where it was later pronounced that he had passed away.
“It is with great sadness that we have to communicate the passing of a great sailor and much-loved friend to the many participants over the years. He immensely enjoyed the regatta and was a regular participant for seven years,” said Jeff Harris, chairman of the 2018 RMSIR committee.
“The Royal Selangor Yacht Club and RMSIR organisers and officials would like to express their deepest condolences to the sailor’s family and his crewmembers,” he added.
The RMSIR is organised annually by the Royal Selangor Yacht Club (RSYC) in association with the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) and the Malaysia Sailing Association; assisted by the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) and Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN). This year’s event flagged off from Port Klang on 17 November 2018 and will end in Langkawi on 24 November. The fleet sailed to Pangkor for the first leg and to Penang for the second leg.
