KUALA TERENGGANU, MALAYSIA: Three fishermen went through a 13-hour open sea ordeal, after their boat sank in a storm, 12 nautical miles from the shore here.

However, the three men managed to grab life jackets before their boat sank, and were saved by the crew of a passing trawler at noon yesterday.

Tekong Omar Mamat, 38, and his crew Riduan Husin, 32, and Rosdi Nizam Omar, 35, all from Kampung Losong Haji Long, had gone out to sea on Sunday.

They were fishing some 24 nautical miles from the shore when their vessel was hit by a storm on Wednesday evening.

They headed towards land and were halfway there when the boat sprang a leak and began to sink rapidly.

State Maritime Enforcement Agency commander Syed Suzi Syed Hassan said the owner of the boat reported to the agency at 9.25am yesterday that the fishermen had not returned to base as scheduled.

He said a search was mounted and the search team found the fishermen safely on board the trawler shortly after they were rescued.

"The fishermen were transferred to the patrol boat and later taken to Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital for treatment.

"Riduan had injured his leg, but all have been placed under observation for the time being," Syed Suzi said.