By DayakDaily Team
MIRI, March 5: A 58-year-old man lost his life, while a 27-year-old man survived with injuries after their inflatable boat went out of control and capsized while heading out fishing in the Baram River today.
The Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Lutong responded to the emergency at 11.22am, dispatching a team of firefighters to Rumah Mekar along Sungai Mekar in Asam Paya, Kuala Baram.
Upon arrival, firefighters found that the injured 27-year-old boat driver and his deceased companion had already been brought to the jetty.
With assistance from the police, firefighters helped transport the victims from the jetty to the shore.
Prior to the incident, both victims were heading upstream along the Baram River to fish when their inflatable boat suddenly became uncontrollable and capsized.
Both men were thrown into the river. The boat driver sustained head and hand injuries after being struck by the propeller blades of the Yamaha 30HP inflatable boat engine.
Fortunately, villagers from a nearby longhouse, who happened to be at the river at the time, managed to rescue both victims.
The injured boatman then steered the boat downstream to Rumah Mekar jetty to bring his deceased companion ashore.
The injured victim was transported to Miri Hospital via ambulance, while paramedics from the Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed the 58-year-old man’s death. His body was handed over to the police for further action. — DayakDaily
