Infamous ship-jumping twin found dead in dilapidated New Zealand motel

One of the Ingham twin sisters who made global headlines after jumping from a Malaysian container ship has been found dead at a Wellington motel.

One of the Ingham twin sisters who infamously jumped from a Malaysian container ship has been found dead at a Wellington motel. Picture: Supplied

One of the Ingham twin sisters, who captivated public attention in the late 1990s for stowing away on a Malaysian container ship, has been found dead at a New Zealand motel.

Police are calling Joanne Ingham’s death “unexplained”.

​Police were called to the Harbour City Motor Inn on Webb Street in Wellington at about 2.40am Tuesday (local time) and a spokesperson said inquiries into the death are under way, NZ Herald reported.

“A scene examination will occur this morning. Further information will be provided when it is available,” they said.

A man who lives next to the hotel where Ingham was found says police are at the address on average once a month.

He told the Herald he heard sirens this morning but that was not uncommon on Webb Street.

“I’m not really bothered by it, everyone that does come and go keeps themselves to themselves for the most part.”

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Joanne Ingham, who survived after jumping ship off the Queensland coast, has been found dead. Picture: Supplied

Sarah and her twin sister became involved with Malaysian seaman. Picture: Supplied

He said the hotel had lost its signs in recent weeks, but he still saw people entering and exiting the building.

By just after 1pm, the scene at the motel was almost abandoned. A single police car was parked on the street, and another was halfway down the road at the intersection of Webb and Cuba Streets.

A grill was pulled down over the receptionist’s desk but no police cordon was visible.

A security guard told the Herald the hotel had recently changed hands, which was why the signs had been taken down.

A member of the church opposite the hotel told the Herald that disorder – and subsequent police presence – used to be a frequent feature of the area, as it was formerly used for emergency housing, but the issues had mostly ceased when the hotel changed hands.

He said there were often drug deals outside the building, and a corner room was ruined in a fire and its occupant left “in a hurry”.

Joanne and Sarah Ingham walking into Nelson District Court to face charges after being deported from Australia. Picture: Supplied

Joanne and Sarah Ingham first came to international attention in 1997 when they were 18. They had stowed away on a Malaysian container ship leaving Tauranga, and claimed to have jumped overboard and survived swimming through crocodile-infested waters in Queensland.

Sarah had fallen in love with sailor Ja’afar bin Mohamed Zan, who was 27 at the time, with the three jumping from the ship after the twins were found out by the captain.

They reportedly swam for 19 kilometres and through crocodile and shark infested waters before surviving for 19 days on nothing but shellfish.

Their tale dominated world headlines and led to them receiving a hefty payment to appear on Paul Holmes’ TV show.

In an awkward interview, the twins told Holmes that before jumping off the ship they were told to hold their life jackets down the side so they didn’t break their necks when they hit the water.

Joanne (behind) and Sarah Ingham (front) being led into Otahuhu Court to face larceny and assault charges after being deported from Australia. Picture: Supplied

They were also told they could die if they went under the ship into the propeller so they should jump out as far as they could.

The sisters later married Malaysian partners and lived in Malaysia but left them and returned to New Zealand with their children in 2004.

Joanne Ingham married Malaysian fisherman Hanafi Salleh – the best friend of her sister’s husband – in 1999 and lived together for five years.

In 2012, Salleh told the Herald he was trying to re-establish ties with his children.

“I’m still the father and I’m still alive,” he said at the time.

“I have to take care of my kids. I miss them so much.”

When the Herald put this to Ingham, in 2012, she said: “What a joke. He hasn’t had anything to do with my kids.”

This article originally appeared on NZ Herald and was reproduced with permission