PITAS: An 11-year-old boy who went missing while bathing in Sungai Bengkoka, Kampung Pondoi, here, on Monday evening, was found dead yesterday morning.
In the incident at about 5pm, four other individuals believed to be family members of the victim, aged four to 18, were reported to have survived.
Pitas Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) chief Noor Jali Maslah said his department received an emergency call regarding the incident at 5.17 pm.
He said a team of personnel and officers along with machinery and boats from the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) were immediately deployed to the location.
“Upon arriving at the scene, the fire brigade continued to conduct search and rescue (SAR) operations using surface water search methods within a radius of one kilometre from the Fire Control Centre (PKB).
“The victim was finally found by villagers at 7.36 am on Wednesday at a position approximately one kilometre from the PKB,” he said in a statement yesterday.
According to him, the fire brigade then carried the victim out using a stretcher before handing him over to the police for further action.
“The victim’s body was then sent to the hospital and confirmed dead by the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH).
“The operation ended at 8.25 am after the team ensured there was no further danger at the location,” he said. – Fardy Bungga
The victim was found dead by villagers about 1 kilometre from the Fire Control Centre (PKB).
