MERSING: An imam from a mosque in Pontian drowned after falling off a boat at the Kampung Semaloi Jetty in Endau near here.
The Johor Fire and Rescue Department Operation Centre said they received a call regarding the drowning case at 2.25am on Tuesday (May 20).
“The search and rescue (SAR) operation was conducted at 2.30am upon the arrival of the operation team,’’ Endau Fire station chief Mohd Alias Hussin said in a statement.
He said the surface searching technique was used during the operation about 100 metres from the jetty, where the victim was last seen.
“The operation was temporarily stopped at 3.30am due to safety reasons and poor lighting,’’ said Mohd Alias who led the operation.
He added that the SAR operation resumed at 8am today using the surface searching and windshield wiper searching techniques.
Mohd Alias from the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department’s Water Rescue Unit (PPDA) discovered the body of the victim at noon, about 100 metres from the jetty.
“The victim, identified as 45-year-old Al Hafiz Yunus, was handed over to police at 12.15pm for further action,’’ he said, adding that the operation ended at 1.46pm.
Mohd Alias said the operation involved 10 personnel from the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department, five firemen from the Endau Fire station, five divers each for the Mersing and Skudai PPDA respectively.
He said others who assisted in the operation include nine policemen, five Rela members, 12 from the Johor Islamic Religious office and 51 civilians.
