Published on: Sunday, March 03, 2013 |
It was learnt that the four were doing research on stones in the area when the incident happened at about 3.30pm.
However, two of them, Mohd Jamaludin Shah, 24, and Siti Lyana, 22, were rescued at about 6.37pm and 6.50pm, respectively, after they managed to hold on to something solid which prevented them from being swept further away by the currents.
District Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief Faisal Ahmad said, the body of Muhamad Azizan Mohd Sidek, aged 22, was found downstream Sungai Balung at 3.57pm on Saturday floating facedown, adding they were alerted of the incident at 4.51pm on Friday.
Meanwhile, the search for the fourth person, Muhd Hazmi Yakub, aged 25, will resume at 7am on Sunday.
According to him, a total of 88 people including 11 rescue personnel from Brunei Darussalam joined in the search and rescue operation comprising personnel from the fire and rescue team from Tawau, Kunak and Semporna, Umas Felda Fire and Rescue Volunteer Team and the Civil Defence Department.
The team from Brunei comprised air force personnel, police and paramedics who were flown in to assist in the mission.
The victims' family members were also at the scene.
According to the university's spokesperson, the Year Two science faculty group comprised 30 people, including two lecturers who were in Tawau to do their geology research since Feb. 22 and were scheduled to return to their country yesterday.
The group has since returned to their country at 2pm via Royal Brunei Airlines.
Meanwhile, the Brunei Consul General Zamani Razali expressed gratitude to Sabah and Malaysia for the assistance and attention given.
