KOTA KINABALU: A man drowned when trying to rescue his younger brother and cousin during an outing at a river in Lahad Datu.
The 33-year-old was with his family at Sungai Dewata, having a picnic and swimming prior to the 11am incident.
Lahad Datu OCPD Asst Comm Dzulbaharin Ismail said based on initial investigations, the two victims, aged 16 and 10, had gotten into trouble when strong river currents washed them into the deeper parts of the river.
“They were just hanging out at the river bank area at that time, when strong currents washed them away,” he said in a statement.
The victim and other family members jumped in to save the two children, and the duo managed to be rescued.
However, the family later realised that the victim did not resurface and so the others jumped into the river once again to search for him, ACP Dzulbaharin said.
He said the victim was found unconscious afterwards and taken to the Lahad Datu hospital for treatment, where he was later pronounced dead at 12.49pm.
This case is being classified under sudden death.
ACP Dzulbaharin advised the public to refrain from carrying out water-based activities for the time being due to the unpredictable weather conditions.
