Missing Thai fisherman found drowned in Kedah waters

ALOR SETAR: The missing Thai crewman of a Malaysian fishing boat who fell into the sea off Pulau Bidan last Thursday has been found drowned.

Kuala Kedah maritime director Commander Noor Azreyanti Ishak said the body of Donbagee Tingsa, 33, was found at 8.30am on Saturday (May 13) about 2.0 nautical miles off Pulau Bidan.

"His body was taken to Jeti Sungai Udang Yan and handed over to the police for further action," she said in a statement on Saturday.

The boat skipper realised the victim was missing at about 2.25pm last Thursday, when they were about 1.8 nautical miles southwest of Pulau Bidan and subsequently lodged a report.

The Langkawi Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre activated a search and rescue operation, which also involved the Marine police, the Malaysian Civil Defence Force and local fishing boats.

Noor Azreyanti advised those doing activities at sea to take safety measures such as wearing life jackets, checking the weather forecast and to ensure vessels are in good condition before heading out to sea, and to use a personal locator beacon.

She also advised the public to report any emergency or accident at sea via the 24-hour emergency line MERS 999 or the Kuala Kedah Maritime Zone operations center at 04-731 0579. – Bernama