KOTA BELUD: A 24-year-old man was found drowned on Sunday (June 14) morning, about 12 hours after he was swept away by strong currents while bathing in a river near Kampung Tambatuon.
The victim, identified as Abner Lasmel, was believed to have been enjoying a recreational outing with several friends at a river near Kampung Tambatuon on Saturday afternoon when the current carried him away.
According to the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department, an emergency call was received at 6.15pm on Saturday, prompting personnel from the Kota Belud Fire and Rescue Station to be deployed to the scene.
Upon arrival, firefighters launched a search-and-rescue operation along the river using surface-water search techniques.
"The victim was found by members of the public at about 7am, approximately 1.2km from where he was reported missing.
"He was pronounced dead at the scene by the police before being handed over to the authorities for further action," the department said in a statement on Sunday.
The operation involved eight firefighters from the Kota Belud station, with assistance from the police.
The search and rescue operation was called off at 10.20am after the victim's body was successfully retrieved from the river.
Kota Belud, about an hour's drive northeast of Kota Kinabalu, is a rural district on Sabah's west coast known for its rivers and outdoor recreation areas.
