A local man in his 70s died after the boat he was steering capsized in a swamp area at Kampung Sungai Tiang Baroh near Selekoh yesterday. He was accompanied by four Myanmar nationals.
Acting assistant director of operations for the Perak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), Shazlean Mohd Hanafiah, said a team from the Hutan Melintang fire and rescue station was deployed to the scene at 11.27 am following an emergency call.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the boat overturned due to strong currents, throwing all five occupants into the water. The four Myanmar nationals managed to swim to safety, but the boatman was swept away.
Rescue personnel conducted a search operation using the LAST rescue concept to assess the area where the accident occurred.
They later received information that the victim had been found in a swampy location. Firemen proceeded to retrieve him from the chest-deep mud. He was confirmed dead at the scene due to the conditions in which he was trapped.
The victim’s body was handed over to the police for further action. The operation concluded at 4.51 pm.
