Six-year-old Enrique Bong Kai Cen, who went missing yesterday evening, has been found safe, Padawan district police confirmed.
Supt Mohd Irwan Hafiz Md Radzi said the boy was located along a small riverbank, approximately 200 metres from his family’s home. “Yes, he has been found safe at the river bank near the house,” he said.
The discovery was reportedly aided by a drone operated by a member of the public, which spotted the child’s legs among the vegetation. Enrique was subsequently rescued and transported to the hospital via a Civil Defence Force ambulance for a medical check-up.
The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) confirmed that the boy was found at around 5:18 pm, and the search operation concluded at 5:50 pm.
Enrique, who has autism, went missing along Jalan Kim Chu Shin at around 4:15 pm on Sunday. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with a sun logo, brown shorts, and slippers.
A search was immediately launched after the family was unable to locate him. The operation resumed yesterday morning after being postponed late Sunday, involving more than 50 personnel from the police, Fire and Rescue Department, Civil Defence Force, and family members. K9 units and drones were also deployed to assist in the search.
Enrique was reunited with his relieved family following his near 24-hour ordeal.
