Authorities use jet skis in search of missing Tenom boat capsize victim

KOTA KINABALU: Jet Skis are being used apart from boats and cadaver dogs to search for the remaining Tenom boat capsize victim, Joseph Sayah, 55.

These jet skis were brought in by Melalap assemblyman Datuk Peter Anthony on Thursday (Sept 23).

The body of another victim, Melvin Junaidi, 12, was found after search with firemen and villagers on Thursday.

"We will continue the search for the other victim. We hope to find him downstream, so we will start there. Let’s see after that, we might search upstream," Anthony said in a short video posted on his Facebook.

In his Facebook post, he said that he had rushed from the Sabah state assembly that was in session to Beaufort — a two-hour drive away — to join volunteers on jet skis searching for two people who went missing after their boat capsized on Wednesday.

He said they found Melvin’s body in the shallow parts of the river in Kampung Parang Besar at around 4.15pm, after searching for about an hour.

According to State Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Misran Bisara, Melvin’s body was discovered at Sg Padas Batu 60, Beaufort some 33km from where he was last seen.

The body was taken back for identification before it was handed over to the police for further action, he said.

Earlier, Misran said their search and rescue at Kg Kalandos Pangi started at around 8am on Thursday, together with villagers.

He said a cadaver dog was also used to help locate the victims, who were believed to have drowned following the boat capsize incident.

In the Wednesday incident, the two victims together with two others had just finished grocery shopping in the Tenom town and were on their way home via the Padas river.

They were on a sampan when strong waves hit, overturning the boat.

Two of them managed to swim to the riverbank while the victims were swept away by strong river currents.

Firemen received a call about the incident at 4.13pm.

There is no other way to reach the accident location apart from taking an hour-long train ride and then walking to the river.