Worker dies, two others hospitalised after exposure to toxic gases in Senai

KULAI: An Indonesian national died while two others are hospitalised after they were exposed to toxic gases in a sewerage system near Senai International Airport here.

Kulai OCPD Supt Dzulkairi Mukhtar said the victim, Abdul Basit, 32, was a contract worker for a cleaning company.

"We received information about a man who drowned near Gate One of the airport on Saturday (Aug 11) at around 12pm.

"The victim was found about three metres down inside a septic tank," he said.

He added that the victim was recovered with the help of the Bandar Putra Fire and Rescue Department personnel at around 12.50pm and was pronounced dead by medical personnel.

Supt Dzulkairi said initial investigations found that the victim was working for a cleaning company based in Pasir Gudang, which had a contract to maintain sewage tanks at the airport.

He said that the victim, who had been working with the company for two years, was previously tasked with cleaning roads and this was his first time working on a sewage tank.

"The victim entered the tank through a manhole without wearing any safety harness, and was exposed to ammonia and methane gases," he said.

He said the victim encountered difficulty and shouted for help from his two colleagues.

Supt Dzulkairi said the two almost managed to pull Abdul Basit out of the manhole but they were also affected by the gases and the victim fell back down.

He also said the other victims, Malaysian Nazri Yasin, 40, and Indonesian national Sutrisno, 44, were sent to Kulai Hospital for treatment.

The victim's body was also sent to the same hospital for a post-mortem.

He said police have classified the case as sudden death.