BODY OF YOUNG MAN BELIEVED TO HAVE FALLEN INTO A POND FOUND

BINTULU, Dec 8 (Bernama) -- The body of a young man believed to have fallen into a pond near the workers' quarters at Simpang Rumah Panjang Kiroh Bali, in Tatau yesterday was found drowned.

The victim, Daniel Jumau, 23, was reported missing around 4:18 pm after his friends found his towel and slippers by the pond but failed to locate him.

The Operations Centre (PGO) of the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM) Sarawak, in a statement, said the Tatau Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) received the emergency call at 4:18 pm, and the fire engine arrived a minute later at the location, which is about one kilometre from the station.

A Search and Rescue (SAR) operation was launched but failed to find the victim until late yesterday evening.

The second day of the operation today involved 14 members of BBP Tatau, including the Water Rescue Team (PPDA) Zone 5 from BBP Bintulu, along with police and Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) members.

According to the statement, the PPDA team initiated underwater search techniques while other teams conducted visual searches on the surface.

At 10:41 am, PPDA divers reported finding the victim at the bottom of the pond at a depth of about six metres, not far from the location where he was believed to have fallen.

The victim's body was then handed over to the police for further action at 10:46 am, before the SAR operation was terminated at 11:01 am.

The operation was led by Tatau BBP Chief, Senior Fire Officer II Herudin Ealhi, and involved assets including one LFRT fire engine, one lorry, and two Hilux four-wheel-drive vehicles.

-- BERNAMA