A 39-year-old man who went missing while searching for shellfish in a river was found dead with parts of his body missing, believed to have been attacked by a crocodile, in Kampung Tulibas Baru, Lahad Datu, on Friday.
The remains of Selesion Appang were discovered by villagers in the river at about 3.06pm, several days after he reportedly left home to search for lokan on Sept 23.
Lahad Datu Fire and Rescue Station chief Sumsoa Rashid said the victim was found about three kilometres from the area where his hat had earlier been discovered at the river mouth near the beach.
“The victim’s body was incomplete, with the portion from the waist down and his right arm missing. It is believed he was attacked by a crocodile,” he said when contacted by Sinar Harian.
Rescuers retrieved the body from the river before handing it over to police for further action.
Sumsoa said the fire and rescue department received an emergency call at 10.32am about a man believed to have gone missing in the river area.
Selesion had reportedly left his home on Sept 23 to search for lokan in a nearby river but never returned and could not be contacted.
His family later found his hat near the river mouth by the beach, while the equipment he had used to search for lokan, including a rake, was discovered in the river.
A search and rescue operation was subsequently launched with other agencies, with rescuers searching along the riverbanks and across the water.
Villagers also assisted the operation using private boats to search the water’s surface before Selesion was found at 3.06pm.
The operation was fully called off at 4.45pm after no further hazards were reported at the scene.
