Flood victim dies peacefully 17 years after making headlines

A photo of Cheng Piew seen at his funeral.

A KEDAHAN flood victim, whose plight was highlighted in almost every newspaper in the country in 2005, died peacefully in his sleep 17 years after he was rescued.

The photos of Lee Cheng Piew, then 51, perched atop his almost fully-submerged taxi amid flowing floodwaters stunned the country.

Cheng Piew showing newspaper articles about his ordeal a few days after the incident.

It was during one of the worst monsoon floods in Malaysian history that caused 25,130 people in five states to be evacuated.

On Dec 18, 2005, Cheng Piew tried to drive his taxi through a flooded road in Jitra but strong currents swept his taxi into a river. It floated in the water until it was snagged by a coconut tree.

He was rescued four hours later when a factory owner used his long-armed excavator to reach Cheng Piew, who climbed on, and was brought to safety.

His brother Lee Cheng Hiang, 60, said after the rescue, Cheng Piew became an easygoing man and made many friends.

“He went back to the coconut tree that snagged his taxi and offered prayers of thanks. And he swore to never again drink coconut water,” Cheng Hiang added.

Although saddened by Cheng Piew’s death, Cheng Hiang is glad his brother, 68, who had heart problems, was able to pass away peacefully on Dec 27.

Cheng Piew left behind his wife Goh Poe Ai, 68, three children aged 32 to 37 and two grandchildren.