ALOR SETAR: A mother and her two young sons who died when their car plunged into a river near Jalan Sungai Petani-Baling on Saturday were believed to have been returning home after attending a gotong-royong event at a school.
Baling OCPD Supt Shamsudin Mamat said Masyitoh Ibrahim, 37, and her sons Muhammad Ziyad Zikri Sharudin, seven, and Muhammad Ziyad Haziq Sharudin, five, were on their way home after participating in the event at SK Kampung Selarong in Kuala Ketil, where Masyitoh taught Islamic religious studies.
He added that the gotong-royong event at the school ended at about 12.30pm on Saturday.
“The mother had brought her sons to the school for the activity and they were probably on their way home from the school when the incident happened,” he said.
He added that investigations revealed the incident occurred at about 6.30pm when the car driven by Masyitoh was heading towards Sungai Petani from Kuala Ketil.
It was believed that she had lost control of the car at the Syed Omar bridge, causing it to skid and plunge into Sungai Muda.
Supt Shamsudin said all three victims were found trapped inside the car.
Kedah Fire and Rescue Department deputy director Assistant Fire Commissioner Syufaat Kamaron said a search and rescue operation was launched at 6.42pm on Saturday, and the car was located at 11pm.
He added that the car, which had sunk about five metres beneath the surface, was finally lifted out from the river nearly five hours later at 3.30am yesterday.
“A crane was used to retrieve the wreckage. We found the mother and her two sons in a position as though they were hugging each other between the front and back seats,” he said.
He said the operation was carried out with the assistance of the police, volunteer fire brigade, Rela and villagers residing nearby.
Syufaat said Masyitoh’s body was extricated at 3.32am, followed by her children two minutes later.
“The rescuers were hampered by the river’s strong currents, which even broke the chains of the crane lifting out the car.
“The car was lifted out of the river at the second attempt,” he added.
The bodies of the victims were later sent to Hospital Kulim for a post-mortem, while the car was sent to the Baling police headquarters.
Masyitoh’s younger brother Mohd Asyraf Ibrahim, 34, said that his two nephews were very close to their mother and would usually tag along with her whenever she went out.
“My sister was a joyful person and a very kind, loving mother to her boys,” he added.
Mohd Asyraf said he was shocked to hear the news and was initially hoping that his sister and her sons would be found alive.
He added that Masyitoh and her sons would be buried at their hometown in Bukit Pinang, Alor Setar.
