LAHAD DATU: Two separate incidents occurred on the East Coast on June 29—a fatal crocodile attack on a teenage boy in Lahad Datu and a fire at an apartment unit in Sandakan.
In the first incident, Mohd Nazri Ahidin, a 12-year-old foreigner, was fatally mauled by a crocodile in Sungai Tagupi Darat about 11.00 am. His father alerted the State Fire and Rescue Operations Control Centre at 12.06 pm. Before firefighters arrived, members of the public recovered the boy’s body about 300 metres from where he was last seen. A preliminary examination found injuries to his left leg and lower back, and he was pronounced dead by authorities at the scene.
A team from the Lahad Datu Fire and Rescue Station, led by PBK I Mohd Hamka Mustamin along with four personnel, reached the location—roughly 140 kilometres away—at 3.44 pm. The operation concluded at 4.26 pm after the remains was handed over to the police for further action.
In the second incident in Sandakan, a third-floor apartment at Villa Permai, Jalan Sibuga, was extensively damaged by fire. An emergency call was received at 4.39 pm, prompting 11 personnel from the Sandakan station, led by PBK I Rosemedian Majid, to respond. The scene, located just five kilometres from the station, was reached at 4.44 pm. Firefighters managed to contain the blaze by 5.01 pm, and the operation concluded at 5.25 pm. No casualties were reported in the fire.
Police assisted fire and rescue personnel at both scenes to ensure safety until the operations were completed. – James Leong
Rescue personnel carrying the boy’s remains to a vehicle in Lahad Datu on Monday.
