Tragic news: A 20-year-old Malaysian died on Sunday, Jan. 20, after his car plunged into the Penang Strait.

The victim, Moey Yun Peng, was driving on Penang Bridge when his Mazda SUV collided with a Toyota Vios, which was driven by a friend.

According to New Straits Times, the two drivers were said to have been going home after a friend's birthday party at a club along Chulia Street in George Town.

The Toyota Vios driver, who tested positive for marijuana, survived the collision and was released on Jan. 24 on police bail, reported The Sun Daily.

When Moey's Mazda SUV was finally hauled up after more than 24 hours -- rescue efforts were impeded by strong undercurrents -- his body was found strapped to the driver's seat, with his hand holding on the car door handle as if he was trying to open it, but failed to.

A surveillance video from a vehicle driving on the stretch of road at the time of the accident captured footage of what happened.

What to do

Since the tragedy, advice on what to do to survive falling into the water while driving have been propagated.

In five steps, here is what experts recommend to do.

1. Don't panic

Before you do anything, it is important to remain calm in order to "conserve your energy and stay focused", so you can plan your escape route better.

2. Unbuckle your seat belt

Then, you should unbuckle your seat belt, avoid getting your belongings, and remove any item that might weigh you down as you swim out, such as your jacket if you're wearing one.

3. Wind down the side window to escape

Before the car sinks even deeper, wind down the side window as fast as possible and waste no time in getting out.

Whatever you do, don't try to open the door if water is still flooding the car, even though it's your first instinct to do so.

According to The Washington Post, this is because the water outside will put pressure on the door of up to 600 pounds a square inch (42.5kg per square centimetre).

4. Break the window if it can't be wound down

If power is cut off or the side window is jammed, break it with a hard object, like a hammer or key chain.

Tools should be placed in the car near the window in case of an emergency.

This only applies to side windows as windshields are several layers thicker as they are made to withstand strong impact.

5. Help the eldest child first

If you're travelling with children, only help them after you've rolled down your side window and unbuckled your seat belt.

Help the eldest child out first. Once they are out, they can potentially help the younger ones too.

Lastly, according to WP, even if you're not very good at swimming, you can simply take deep breaths, hold it, and let your body's natural buoyancy take you up to the surface.

Top image via Tom's Odyssey/ YT

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