MEMBAKUT: An elderly man, Banggul @ Maicheal Dumat, 77, from Kg Kiulu Lumat, who was believed to have gone missing while searching for bamboo shoots in the forest at noon on Friday, was found safe on Saturday.
Fire Station Chief Ishak Jabas confirmed the matter on Saturday, saying that the victim had returned home at 6.20am on his own via a stream near his house and was in good health.
He made his way home independently by following the stream near his residence.
Earlier, Ishak said the fire department received an emergency call on Friday at 7.48pm and the distance to the incident location was about 10km.
The fire team launched a Search and Rescue (SAR) operation in the area where the victim was reported missing, with a search radius of 100 meters.
“According to information from the police, the victim had gone into the forest to look for bamboo shoots at noon and did not return home, prompting a report to be lodged at the Beaufort Police Station,” said Ishak.
The operation was suspended at 9.50pm and was scheduled to resume the following morning.
However, with the victim’s return, the SAR operation was immediately called off, Ishak added.
