After more than 72 hours experiencing bad weather in the middle of sea and reported missing for over 30 hours in the Mengalum waters of Sabah, five crews of seven gunboats CB204 have safely arrived at the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) base here at 12.50pm today.

The crews escorted by KD Ganas gunboats since 4am yesterday after they were found exhausted near Terumbu Layang-Lauang at west coast of Sabah, 6.49pm yesterday.

Their arrival were welcomed by Rear Admiral Datuk Mohammad Rosland Omar and their families at RMN base here.

The crew members onboard the CB204, Lt Azri Bakar, BK PAP Charles Cristopher Muni, BM TMK Ince anak Ewin, BM TMK Steven Hudson anak Miso, BM JTP Nor Azuan Ariffin, LK KOM Sulhajji Daah and LK I PAP Azhry Maani.

Charles and Steven, who fell ill, were flown in a Super Lynx helicopter which reached the naval base here at 6.30pm yesterday and were now being treated in the hospital at the base.

Charles was reported to have gastric problem while Steven suffered from electrocution.

The CB204 boat was reported missing at Pulau Mengalum after left the Kota Kinabalu RMN base at 5am on Sunday for its turn of duties with another vessel on operation at the Gugusan Semarang Peninjau, Pulau Layang-layang, when it lost radio communication with the escort vessel KD Paus at 11.15am.