Video: Omani fisherman honoured for saving 9 tourists

Muscat - Their boat caught fire, forcing them to jump into the sea

It was 11am and the sea was calm. Jassem Al Bathari, a fisherman, was 500m away from the beach when he saw thick smoke rising from a boat at a distance of 200m from him. Those in the boat were screaming for help. "The next moment, fire broke out in the boat and those on it jumped into the sea," Al Bathari was quoted as saying by Times of Oman.
The fisherman reached the boat on blaze and found nine people desperately trying to get to the shores. "Some of them couldn't swim - and I shifted all of them to my boat and sailed to the beach," he said.
"I called The Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA) and Royal Oman Police (ROP). I also informed my friend from near the area to come and extinguish the fire," Al Bathari told the newspaper.
The incident happened near the sea off the coast of Al Shuwaymiyah.
The police have honoured the fisherman for saving the lives of the nine tourists, who came to Dhofar to fish and enjoy the beauty of Al Halaniyat island.
On receiving the honour, Al Bathari was elated beyond measure. "This happiness is not comparable to any other achievement in my life," he said.
"The incident happened on October 1, and the police and PACDA thanked me for saving the people. I was surprised when they called me this week for the honour," Al Bathari told the newspaper.
Col Ali Basadik, assistant Commander of Dhofar Polic Command, felicitated Al Bathari for his humanitarian act and turning a saviour to the tourists.

• Oman