MERSING: A three-year-old girl who was suffering from shortness of breath was successfully transported from Pulau Aur to Mersing Hospital by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).

       Johor MMEA First Admiral Nurul Hizam Zakaria said they received a call from the Mersing District Health office regarding the plight of the girl at about 11am.

       Nurul said Nur Izzara Aliasha Hirwanizam from Kampung Teluk Behala, Pulau Aur was taken to the mainland by a MMEA patrol boat.

       “Our patrol boat which was on a routine patrol in the area was sent to the island to carry out the relief mission,’’ he said in a statement.

       Nurul said the boat carrying the child and two staff from the Mersing District office arrived at the Mersing Maritime jetty at around 3.30pm.

       “The child was handed over to paramedic staff from the Mersing Hospital for further treatment,’’ he said.

       The distance between Pulau Aur and Mersing is 76.5km and it takes approximately three hours to get from Mersing to the island.