According to Nurzahara Pasaribu, a friend of deceased Professor Retno Widiastuti, the lecturer had been on vacation with 13 friends at the Iboih tourist resort of Weh Island in Sabang municipality that day.
The incident occurred on Thursday (February 12) at around 11.00 a.m. local time, she noted.
"We had planned to go snorkeling in the waters around Rubiah Island, which is adjacent to the Iboih Beach. There were 14 of us, so we rented two boats," Pasaribu explained.
En route to the snorkeling point, the tourist boat that Widiastuti had boarded was hit by a wave. This caused the boat to split, after which everyone onboard, including Widiastuti, tried to save themselves.
"It all happened very quickly. We panicked. Some other boats came to rescue us not long after this happened. I saw her (Widiastuti) holding onto some wood," Pasaribu stated.
The victim, who had swallowed a lot of sea water, was pulled out of the water and administered artificial resuscitation, but she passed away despite their efforts, Pasaribu pointed out, adding that the victim had not been wearing a life jacket.
The professors body was moved from Sabang to Ulee Lheue Port in Banda Aceh by a quick ferry, after which it was rushed to a hospital in the city for autopsy.
North Sumatra, where the USU is located, shares its borders with the westernmost province of Aceh.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
