Published on: Monday, January 03, 2005 |
Kota Kinabalu: A fisherman from Pulau Gaya went missing after he was swept off the fishing vessel by a "single big wave" in rough seas off Kampung Labidan, Menumbok, Sunday.
Beaufort Deputy District Police Chief, Supt Mohd Taib, said a search and rescue team had been deployed led by Fire and Rescue Department personnel to the area but the victim identified as Abdul Rahman Dollah, in his 20s, was still not found.
The victim's colleague told police that the seven of them were netting for prawns when the big wave measuring some six metres hit the vessel, throwing two people including the victim into the sea at about 1pm.
They managed to rescue one of them but failed to get to Abdul Rahman. The fishermen immediately headed for the mainland and one of the crew, Shabidin Bagaris lodged a report at the Menumbok police station.
Mohd Taib, however, said the big wave was not related to the tsunami and that the sea there was normally rough during this time of the year. The fishermen claimed that the wave was as tall as the Labuan-Menumbok ferry.
