By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 23: A teenager feared to have been attacked by a crocodile after disappearing while fishing in Sungai Seterap, Pantu, Sri Aman on Tuesday (July 21) was found dead early today, with his body recovered intact and showing no signs of crocodile bite marks.
According to the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), the body of the 15-year-old Taufik Ezany Abdullah was found floating about 30 metres from where he was reported missing, bringing an end to the search and rescue (SAR) operation.
The Sri Aman Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) received a report from the Pantu District Police Headquarters (IPD) at 2.43am informing that members of the public had found the victim’s body.
“The victim was brought to the Pantu jetty using a boat belonging to members of the public before being handed over to the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) for further action.
“The SAR operation involving four personnel from BBP Sri Aman, supported by an Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) vehicle, was subsequently terminated,” Bomba said in a statement.
Based on information from the victim’s mother, eight people, including the teenager, had gone fishing with nets in Sungai Seterap using four boats.
During the activity, the victim dived into the river to free a fishing net believed to have become snagged on a submerged log but failed to resurface.
The victim’s relatives initially suspected he had been attacked by a crocodile after one was seen surfacing not far from the scene of the incident.
However, Bomba said the victim’s body was found intact and bore no signs of crocodile bite marks. — DayakDaily
