PETALING JAYA: A family’s desperate need for milk for their hungry baby amid the worsening floods in Kelantan deeply moved a volunteer, who risked his own life to help them, and ended up with six stitches.
Adrian Hakimi Mohd Don (pic), 35, said on Saturday, he was delivering essential supplies to families stranded by severe flooding as they could not be evacuated by the Civil Defence Force due to strong water currents in their neighbourhoods.
He came across a family in distress, calling out for help because their baby was crying uncontrollably from hunger.
“I nearly cried, their baby was so hungry. So I went to a nearby petrol station and Alhamdulillah, there was bottled milk available.
“I got through the strong currents to get the milk to them, and as soon as the baby was fed, he stopped crying,” said Adrian Hakimi.
However, after leaving the family’s home, he was injured when he stepped on a piece of zinc.
“There was a lot of blood, so I rushed to the hospital. They gave me six stitches without anaesthesia because of a supply shortage,” he said, adding that he received a tetanus shot.
He said he plans to rest his foot for one day and return to assist flood victims.
Adrian Hakimi, who manages the Rantau Panjang Post Facebook page, said he and several volunteer groups are currently helping flood victims in Rantau Panjang, Kelantan.
“Currently, cars, lorries, and even some military boats cannot reach Rantau Panjang due to strong currents. Only helicopters can access the area.
“We have our own search-and-rescue operations to help villagers trapped in their homes. They are in a very difficult and fearful state. They never expected the water to rise by 1.2m in just two hours.”
He added that his group funds its own equipment, including boats, and raises money through Facebook live streams.
“We channel the donations directly to the victims,” he said.
The Rantau Panjang Post Facebook page has gained more than 279,000 followers since it was created during the 2014 floods in Kelantan.
