Malaysian dies while saving trio in Japan

KUALA LUMPUR: A summer outing in Japan turned fatal for a 21-year-old Malaysian after he headed out to sea to rescue three people, whose jet-ski had overturned.

The body of Tan Hee Shiang (pic) was retrieved by the Japanese marine police soon after the tragedy on Tuesday evening.

His fisherman father Tan Keat Lai, 51, who was in­formed of the incident later that day, had sought help from MCA Public Services and Complaints Department chief Datuk Seri Michael Chong yesterday to make arrangements to bring his son’s remains home.

Keat Lai said his son was a purchasing officer at an auto parts company and would go to Japan regularly to source for products.

On Tuesday, Hee Shiang went on a jet-ski ride with his Malaysian colleagues and their Japanese partner at Sat­suki Matsubara Beach in Muna­kata City, Fukuoka around 4pm.

Hee Shiang and a colleague rode on a jet-ski, while their partner and his two female Japanese friends shared another one.

About three hours later, Hee Shiang – upon finding out that his partner’s jet-ski had overturned – rushed to his rescue.

He then allowed the partner and a woman to ride on his jet-ski while he and another woman were pulled back to shore by a rope attached to the jet-ski.

When the group arrived at the shore, Hee Shiang was nowhere to be found.

The rescue team found Hee Shiang’s body floating in the sea later, said Keat Lai, adding that his son was a quiet and obedient person.

Hee Shiang was the eldest among four siblings.

Keat Lai, his wife and another son went to Japan last night to bring Hee Shiang’s ashes home, with help from the Malaysian Embassy in Japan.