A kind-hearted attempt by an animal lover to rescue a cat turned into a tragedy after he fell into a drain nearly four metres deep in an incident at Taman Melaka Perdana, Ayer Keroh on Friday.
In the incident around 11am, the 32-year-old male victim suffered injuries to his right leg and was trapped in the drain for nearly 30 minutes before being noticed by members of the public.
Melaka Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Public Relations Officer, Senior Fire Superintendent II Mohd Hafidzatullah Rashid said the department received an emergency call at 10.58am before 14 firefighters from the Bukit Katil Fire and Rescue Station, assisted by the Ayer Keroh station, were dispatched to the scene.
The victim is believed to have stepped on a concrete drain cover before falling into the drain.
According to him, the victim was reportedly trying to rescue a cat that was in a bushy, hilly area behind his house amid cloudy weather and approaching rain.
“However, the victim is believed to have stepped on a concrete drain cover before falling into the drain,” he said in a statement on Friday.
He added that rescue operations were immediately carried out before the victim was successfully brought up and handed over to a Health Ministry (MOH) ambulance for hospital treatment.
The victim was rescued using the hauling technique with a Sked Stretcher to lift him safely.
The operation was brought under control at 12.41pm and fully concluded about 25 minutes later.
