A fisherman who was reported missing after falling into the sea from the Penang Bridge towards Perai has been found dead following a multi-agency search and rescue (SAR) operation.
The victim, identified as 39-year-old Abdul Ghani Mohsin, was believed to have fallen into the sea while fishing with several friends near pillar number five of the bridge.
Assistant Director of the Operations Division of the Penang Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), John Sagun Francis, said the victim’s body was discovered by a fisherman at about 10.26am on Thursday, approximately two kilometres from where he was believed to have fallen.
He said JBPM received a request for assistance from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) at 11.16am on Wednesday before a rescue team from the Jalan Perak Fire and Rescue Station, together with the Water Rescue Team (PPDA) from the Bagan Jermal Fire and Rescue Station, was deployed to the scene.
A Fire Command Post was established at the Northern Region Marine Department, while the SAR operation was coordinated by the MMEA with the assistance of boats from JBPM, the Marine Police Force and the Malaysian Civil Defence Force.
Search efforts were carried out using the water surface searching method within a radius of up to five kilometres from the location where the victim was reported to have fallen into the sea.
After the victim was found, his body was brought to Batu Uban Jetty, where he was confirmed dead before being handed over to the police for further action.
The body was later transported to Penang Hospital for a post-mortem examination, while the search and rescue operation was officially concluded after the Fire Command Post was closed.
