A 44-year-old Orang Asli man was killed after falling from a tualang tree while harvesting forest produce in the Lata Meraung Forest near Kampung Sungai Kiol yesterday.
The Jerantut Fire and Rescue Station received an emergency call at about 3.20pm reporting that the victim, identified as Yus Bi, had fallen from an estimated height of 30 metres.
According to his brother-in-law, Heyree Mazlan, 30, a group of seven men from the Sungai Kiol Orang Asli settlement had left their village at around 10am to collect forest products. They travelled by motorcycle along logging roads for about an hour before trekking a further 500 metres uphill to reach a tualang tree believed to contain a beehive.
He said the victim was climbing the tree and nailing supports into the trunk when he suddenly complained of cramps in his hands. Despite being urged to descend due to safety concerns, he lost his grip and fell shortly after.
Two members of the group later had to walk out of the forest area to seek assistance due to the lack of mobile network coverage.
Jerantut Fire and Rescue Station chief Raja Arif Raja Shamsudin said firefighters arrived at the scene at 3.41pm, where Health Ministry personnel confirmed that the man had died at the location.
The victim’s remains were later handed over to police for further action.
The search and rescue operation, which also involved police, the Civil Defence Force and health officials, concluded once the area was declared safe.
