KINABATANGAN: The body of a man believed to have been attacked by a crocodile was found about 500 metres downstream from the scene at Kampung Batu Puteh early Saturday, ending a search and rescue (SAR) operation that entered its second day.
The victim, Rusli Mardin, 57, was reported missing after he was attacked while washing a boat at about 6.31pm on Friday, according to his son who witnessed the incident.
Advertisement
Kinabatangan Fire and Rescue Station Chief PPgB Suriyadi Darwis said firefighters received an emergency call at 6.31pm and deployed six personnel to the scene, about 42km from the station, before suspending the search at 8.45pm due to darkness.
He said the SAR operation resumed on Saturday before firefighters were informed that members of the public had found the victim's body at 4.45am, about 500 metres downstream from where he was attacked.
"The victim's body was intact but bore bite marks on the abdomen and the right side of the neck," he said, adding that firefighters helped carry the body from the riverbank to the victim's house before police confirmed the death at the scene and took over the case.
