by DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Jan 2: The search and rescue (SAR) operation for a missing 14-year-old boy, feared to have been attacked by a crocodile while fishing along Sungai Kelai near Daro on Dec 26, 2025, ended today after seven days, without recovery of the victim.
Despite extensive efforts by responding authorities, including coordinated water and shoreline searches conducted from the location where the victim was last seen fishing to areas further along the river, no new leads were discovered.
According to the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), the SAR operation entered its seventh day today, commencing as early as 9am and involving multiple agencies as well as local villagers.
The search covered areas from the first crocodile snare installed near the suspected attack site to the eighth snare near Kampung Sebako. However, no crocodile was found trapped in any of the snares.
Search efforts continued until 1.30pm. At 2pm, a coordination meeting involving all participating agencies was held and led by Operation Commander DSP Rahim Mihos to determine the next course of action.
“After the agreement and consensus from all agencies, the SAR operation was ended at 4.10pm as a result of the meeting and agreement with the victim’s family and villagers,” the report said.
Agustine Fernando Nyalong was reported missing on Dec 26, 2025, after he went fishing along the banks of Sungai Kelai with four other teenage boys.
Based on earlier reports, a crocodile suddenly emerged from the water, attacked the victim, and dragged him into the river. His friends attempted to help but were unable to intervene in time. They then rushed back to their longhouse to alert local residents, who immediately went to the scene to search.
A SAR operation was launched shortly after the incident. By the sixth day, the search radius had been expanded to approximately 40 kilometres, covering areas from the Batang Paloh bridge project site to Kampung Sebako. Crocodile traps were also installed at several locations along the river.
Agencies involved in the SAR operation included Bomba, the police, marine police, the Civil Defence Force (APM), Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), the River Board, and Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit (UKPS), with assistance from local villagers. – DayakDaily
