KOTA TINGGI: Three men returning home after a fishing trip were killed when their vehicle plunged into a ditch.
“Initially, their four-wheel drive got stuck in the mud. Their two friends, who were in another four-wheel drive, tried to tow it,” said Kota Tinggi OCPD Supt Yusof Othman.
“During the towing process, the victims’ car slid into the ditch and was submerged in water with strong currents,” he said, adding that this happened at a plantation area.
In a statement, Supt Yusof said the friends attempted to rescue the men by breaking the front left window of the vehicle.
“They managed to pull out one of the men, who was unconscious by then.
“But they could not rescue the other two people from the water-filled vehicle.
“Checks on the rescued man by medical officers later confirmed that he had died,” Supt Yusof added.
He said the bodies of the other two victims were later recovered by the Fire and Rescue Department.
The three victims were aged between 48 and 72.
Meanwhile, Kota Tinggi Fire and Rescue Station chief Shawaluddin Ami Nordin said they received a call regarding the incident, which happened at Ladang YPJ, Ulu Sedili, at 4.40pm on Saturday.
“Upon arrival, the first victim had been found while two others were missing.
“A rescue operation was then launched,” he said.
He said one body was found at about 11.10pm, while the other was discovered at 12.10am yesterday.
