Information from child aids authorities to search for father at river in Pontian, Johor
ON his way home through Kayu Ara Pasong in Pontian, Johor, a man spotted a visibly distressed boy on a bridge, all alone.
Mohammad Firdaus Wahyudin said he was crossing Jambatan Parit Bugis on his motorcycle when he saw the boy.
“He was crying and his body was covered with mud.”
Firdaus asked the nine-year-old boy what had happened and was surprised to hear him say that he had just witnessed his father’s death.
“According to the boy, his father had taken him fishing at Sungai Parit Bugis that morning.
“Unfortunately, while they were fishing, they both fell into the river.
“The boy saved himself and found his way to the bridge,” he told StarMetro.
By then, more passers-by had stopped to find out what happened and after a while, Firdaus, who is a security officer, decided to take the boy to the Kayu Ara Pasong police station.
The father of three said, “He reminds me of my own children.
“I also sometimes go fishing around the same area and take them along.
“If such a tragedy were to befall me, I would want somebody to accompany my kids the same way,” he said.
Firdaus, a father of three, stayed with the child until the boy’s uncle arrived later that day.
“He could explain what happened with such clarity and detail, despite being in major distress after having witnessed a heart-breaking tragedy.
“He was able to give details the authorities needed for the search-and-rescue mission.”
The boy’s discovery at Jambatan Parit Bugis prompted a social media post that went viral.
Firdaus, who is also an emergency responder at a university in Skudai, urged the public to always prioritise safety when engaging in water activities.
Pontian OCPD Supt Hadzrat Hussien Mion Hussain said the victim and his adopted son left the Bumbung Biru jetty in Tanjung Ayer Hitam, Kayu Ara Pasong, at about 8am on Feb 22.
“It is learnt that their boat struck a piece of wood, causing the victim to fall into the river some 800m from the jetty.
“The boy was also believed to have fallen, but managed to cling onto the boat,” he said in a statement.
Following the search-and-rescue operation, the body of a 56-year-old man was discovered by members of the public at 10.30pm the same day, about 200m from where he had fallen into the river.
