By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 15: The body of a 71-year-old man who was reported missing after a boat capsized at Bayai Water Treatment Plant in Sri Aman yesterday has been found about 200 metres from the incident site.
The victim, identified as Banggau Ngilas, was discovered by members of the public at 3.48am today and later confirmed dead. His remains were brought to Sri Aman Hospital for further action.
Sri Aman Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) chief Andrew Vengitasamy, who led the operation, said the incident occurred when the victim and his son-in-law, Roys Misen, 36, were returning from their oil palm plantation with a load of fresh fruit bunches.
“The boat struck a submerged tree trunk in the middle of the river and capsized. One victim managed to swim to safety, but his father-in-law was swept away by the current,” he explained.
The search and rescue (SAR) operation was mounted after Bomba Sri Aman received a distress call at 10.10am yesterday.
A total of three Bomba personnel were deployed with an Emergency Medical Rescue Service (EMRS) vehicle and a rescue boat, assisted by police and the Civil Defence Force (APM) Sri Aman.
Operations were officially called off at 6am today after the victim’s body was recovered. – DayakDaily
