A man’s heroic attempt to save his great-nephew from drowning turned into a tragedy when he himself was feared missing at Sungai Kampung Pulau Kudat here on Saturday.
Hulu Terengganu District Police Chief Superintendent Sharudin Abdul Wahab said the victim, identified as 51-year-old Harun Ibrahim, was believed to have disappeared shortly after rescuing the child from the river.
He said police received information about the incident through the MERS 999 emergency line at about 10.15am before a police report was lodged at 10.51am.
“Based on preliminary information from villagers, the victim initially tried to save his great-nephew who was bathing in the river.
“After successfully rescuing the child, the victim suddenly drowned and sank into the river before disappearing from sight,” he said in a statement on Saturday.
Following the report, police officers from Kuala Berang Police Station, including members from the Crime Prevention Patrol Unit (RCJ), Motorcycle Patrol Unit (URB) and Mobile Patrol Vehicle (MPV) teams, rushed to the scene.
Sharudin said a search and rescue operation was immediately launched with assistance from the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) from Kuala Berang Fire and Rescue Station.
“The victim has yet to be found and the search operation is still ongoing, involving six JBPM personnel,” he said.
It is understood that Harun was a Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) pension recipient and a kidney dialysis patient.
