PONTIAN, Sept 21 — An elderly man is feared drowned after falling into the sea while cleaning a boat propeller at a fishermen’s jetty in Jalan Tambak-Pontian Kecil here today.
Pontian Baru Fire and Rescue Station senior operations commander, Assistant Senior Fire Superintendent Mahadir Mamat, said they received an emergency call regarding the incident at 12.02 pm.
“Upon receiving the call, one Fire Rescue Tender, one aluminium boat, and two four-wheel drives were dispatched to the scene.
“A total of 17 personnel from Pontian Baru Fire and Rescue Station and the water rescue unit (PPDA) from Kluang Fire and Rescue Station were deployed to the location about five kilometres away. The victim, a 65-year-old local man, is believed to have drowned while cleaning the boat propeller,” he said in a statement today.
He said the search and rescue operation for the victim is still ongoing with the assistance of PPDA.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Senior Operations Commander of the Pontian Baru Fire and Rescue Station (BBP), Senior Assistant Superintendent Mahadir Mamat, said the body of the 65-year-old victim was found at 3:25 pm today.
“The victim’s body was found floating about 10 meters from the jetty and was brought up by the fire department, assisted by a friend of the victim and the body was later handed over to the police for further action,” he said. — Bernama
