Teluk Bidara drowning: Victims' families accept loss as fate

DUNGUN (Bernama): A gloomy atmosphere shrouded the forensic unit at Dungun Hospital here as the four bodies of the Teluk Bidara drowning victims were being identified by their family members.

Maznah Muda, mother to Muhammad Zul Fahmi Zuki, was in tears as she took a good look at her son's face for the very last time.

"My instinct told me that the first covered body was my son’s and I was right, I identified him from the scar on his body, which was left after an accident.

"I am grateful that the long wait since Friday has finally ended, though all I could do was to touch his cold body," the 54-year old woman told reporters here Sunday (Jan 19).

The public stumbled upon the body of Muhammad Zul Fahmi of Kemaman on the beach near Mayang Sari Resort here at about 7.30am.

Another victim, Muhammad Ikhwan Ahmad Azhan from Kuala Terengganu, was found at 11.35am by a group of fishermen at Teluk Lipat about 8km from where the four were last seen.

The body of the third victim, Muhamad Luqman Al Rashid Mohamed Sabarudin was recovered at 12.09pm while the last body, that of Mohamad Amir Izzudin Zulkiflee, was found floating about two nautical miles from Pantai Teluk Bidara at 3pm.

The victim from Air Keroh, Melaka was a silat exponent who had represented the state.

Mohamed Sabarudin Mohd Ali, 58, father to Muhammad Luqman, was thankful that his youngest son’s body was found.

"I accept this as fate...his time was up.His brother Mohamad Shafiq identified the victim based on a birthmark on his body and the trousers worn by the victim.

"I thank the rescue teams who had worked hard in the operation, and to all Malaysians for their prayers. I really appreciate them," he said, adding that his son’s remains would be brought back to his grandmother’s village for burial at Kampung Panchor in Raub, Pahang.

In the incident at about 6.30pm on Friday (Jan 17), the four students of Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Polytechnic (PSMZA), all aged 21, went missing while having a swim at Pantai Teluk Bidara. - Bernama