By DayakDaily Team
MARUDI, June 14: The search for Maxwell Laing Michael, 37, who disappeared while bathing in the Baram River at Kampung Long Miri, has been officially called off after eight days with no trace of the victim found.
According to the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), the search and rescue (SAR) operation was formally terminated at 5pm today following extensive efforts involving firefighters, police, Civil Defence Force (APM) personnel, a K9 unit and local villagers.
Maxwell was reported missing on June 6 after he entered the Baram River near Kampung Long Miri for a swim.
As reported previously, his wife, Susana Asong, 30, told rescuers that Maxwell had swum towards the middle of the river at about 3.30pm before appearing to struggle in the water. He was seen flailing before disappearing beneath the surface and did not resurface.
The incident was witnessed by Susana, their child and approximately 15 villagers who were at the scene.
On the eighth and final day of the operation today, search teams resumed efforts at 8am following a briefing involving SAR personnel and participating agencies.
The search covered downstream areas from the village using four boats together with villagers, while a K9 unit carried out surface water searching operations.
Bomba said K9 dog AP Bella detected a scent of interest at a deep section of the river near Kem Sambas, about 500 metres from where Maxwell was last seen.
Search efforts later focused on the Kem Sambas area, with rescuers covering an estimated 13km radius downstream from the incident site.
Although weather conditions remained favourable throughout the day, rising water levels, strong currents and drifting logs carried from upstream continued to hamper search efforts.
A discussion on closing the operation was held at about 2.30pm before teams conducted a final search of the area.
At 5pm, the SAR operation was officially called off by the Marudi District Police chief after no clues or signs of the missing man were discovered.
The final day’s operation involved three firefighters from the Marudi Fire and Rescue Station, six members of the Water Rescue Team (PPDA), two K9 personnel, three police officers, three APM personnel and about 25 villagers from Kampung Long Miri.
Assets deployed included a police boat, an APM boat, five boats belonging to villagers and a Fire and Rescue Department Triton vehicle.
Bomba had launched the SAR operation after receiving a report on the incident in the early hours of June 7. — DayakDaily
