KOTA BELUD: A 25-year-old man who was reported missing while crossing a river in Kampung Lebak Engad here on Wednesday was found drowned on Thursday.
Kota Belud Fire and Rescue Station chief Elge Bakuk said the station received an emergency call at 1.18pm on Wednesday before a team was deployed to the scene, and the victim was found after a two-day search and rescue (SAR) operation involving several agencies and members of the public.
He said rescuers initially carried out a surface rescue search along a 100-metre stretch of the riverbank from the spot where the victim was believed to have drowned before extending the search radius to 500 metres.
The second day's operation, which began at 8.50am, involved a water surface search using a rescue boat as well as a land search along the riverbank, with the victim eventually found by members of the public at 6.15pm about 150 metres from where he was reported to have gone missing.
The body was handed over to the police for further action, while the operation, involving the Fire and Rescue Department, police, the Malaysia Civil Defence Force (APM), the Pangkalan Abai Volunteer Fire Brigade and villagers, ended at 6.54pm after firefighters confirmed the area was safe.
