By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, March 20: The body of a 29-year-old man who fell into the Sarawak River was recovered by divers today.
Kamalddin Azmi’s body was discovered by the search and rescue (SAR) team at 2.26pm, some 20 meters from the spot where he was reported missing.
He was said to have fallen into the river and drowned near the Kampung Boyan jetty, next to Fort Margherita.
Kuching zone fire chief PgKB I Yusri Basri disclosed that today’s second-day operation began at 8am.
“Our rescue team carried out diving and water surface search using boats and ‘grappling iron’ to locate the victim within a radius of about 40 meters.
“Our firefighter divers started diving at 9am. They resumed the search at 1.30pm after a short break. At 2.26pm, they found the victim within the vicinity from where he was said to have fallen,” Yusri told at a press conference together with the police and civil defence.
He also disclosed that the victim’s mother who was at the scene confirmed the identity of her son after the body was brought up to the jetty.
Yesterday, Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) operations centre received the emergency call of the incident at 3.48pm where the victim was seen walking along Kampung Boyan jetty towards Pengkalan Sapi Astana where he fell and did not resurface.
Rescuers led by PBK I Wan Umar Wan Alek consisted of 17 firefighters from Petra Jaya, Batu Lintang and Padungan including its water rescue unit (PPDA) was immediately dispatched to the scene. – DayakDaily
