ALOR GAJAH: A 61-year-old factory manager is feared to have drowned after slipping into Sungai Pengkalan along the riverbank at Taman Persisiran Sungai, here.
The victim is believed to have gone to the site to answer nature's call.
Alor Gajah Fire and Rescue Department's operation commander, Senior Assistant Fire Superintendent Mohamad Hamdan Sudin, said the incident occurred at about 5.40am on Sunday (Nov 17).
A caller alerted officers that the victim had gone out alone to buy food at about 1.50am on the same day, and his phone could not be reached.
Mohamad Hamdan stated that the victim's family members searched for him at several locations, including a mamak restaurant and a hospital, before finding his car in front of the public toilet at the recreational park along Sungai Pengkalan.
"Upon arriving at the scene, we found the toilet locked, while personal belongings were left in the vehicle.
An investigation conducted at the scene by viewing the car's dashboard camera showed the victim pacing back and forth in front of the public toilet for a while as the access door to the facility was locked," he said when contacted on Sunday (Nov 17).
Mohamad Hamdan said his team discovered a pair of slippers along the riverbank believed to belong to the victim, prompting the launch of a search and rescue operation.
"We conducted the operation along the river and around the nearby recreational area but found no signs of the victim.
We also received reinforcement from the search dog unit to locate the victim," he added.
It is learnt that the victim, who worked as a factory manager in Shah Alam, was in the area to attend a wedding and stayed at a relative's house before leaving to buy food at a nearby stall when the incident occurred.
