SIBU: An angler underwent a harrowing 12-hour ordeal drifting in the middle of the crocodile-infested Sg Rajang after slipping and falling while fishing at the Durin Bridge around 30km from here.
He was finally spotted by passers-by some 30km from the place where he had fallen.
Fire and Rescue Department chief for Sibu zone Andy Alie said Davidson Miscol, 29, fell into the river at 4.30pm on Wednesday while trying to wash his feet.
"Fortunately, he had a backpack that helped him stay afloat as he was carried away by the river's strong currents," he said.
"He was unable to swim to the riverbank due to the strong currents and drifted for 12 hours. While drifting, he spotted members of the public on the riverbank and began waving his hands and shouting for help," he said in a statement on Thursday (Dec 5).
He said an operations team from the Sibu Central Fire and Rescue Station was dispatched to the location upon receiving an emergency call about the incident at 3.11am on Thursday.
The man, said Andy, was found floating across the Waterfront Residence embankment, more than 31km from where he was reported to have fallen.
Three firefighters then entered the river using a boat and successfully rescued the angler at 4.13am. - BERNAMA
