Missing girl found safe after nine hours in Kota Belud

KOTA KINABALU: A nine-year-old girl was found safe some 5km away from her home in Kampung Bobot, Kota Belud, nine hours after she was reported missing Saturday (June 29).

Kota Belud Fire and Rescue Services Department station chief Muhammad Syazwan Latun said a team of eight men, led by operations commander Thomas Bolu, was rushed to the scene after receiving the distress call at 12.05pm on Saturday.

The team arrived at the scene, some 8km away from the station, at 12.17pm, and combed the area with the assistance of three policemen and villagers.

“It was learnt that the girl went missing at 6.30am. She was later found safe by a relative some five kilometres away from home,” he said, adding that the operation was called off at 3.40pm.

Meanwhile, in Kinabatangan, another man fell victim to a crocodile attack.

The 24-year-old man, only identified as Azlan, had gone fishing at the river at Ladang Pontion Subok, Sukau, on Saturday when he was attacked by the reptile.

Kinabatangan district fire station chief Nurul Azlan Jamaluddin said a team of four men, led by operations commander Ahmad Pramuja Zainadun, was dispatched to the location following the emergency call at 1:32 pm.

“The victim’s body was recovered by the public at 2.30pm, about 1.2km from where he was last seen. The team arrived at 3.50pm because the location was 73km from the station,” said Nurul.

The body has been handed over to the police for further action.

The operation was called off at 4.33pm.