KUANTAN: An excavator operator drowned after the heavy machinery he was operating overturned while carrying out cleaning works at Tasik Bera on Saturday (Sept 26).
Pahang Fire and Rescue Department operations assistant director Mohd Salahuddin Isa said the 26-year-old victim was found trapped inside the excavator's cabin.
He said firefighters managed to open the cabin door and pull the victim out at about 4.10pm.
"The victim was unconscious when he was brought to shore and was later pronounced dead by medical personnel at the scene.
"Another 28-year-old man involved in the incident managed to escape and was unharmed," he said in a Sinar Harian report on Sunday.
Mohd Salahuddin said the department received an emergency call at 2.11pm before personnel from the Triang Fire and Rescue Station were dispatched to the scene.
He said the team arrived at 2.56pm and found an excavator overturned in the lake during cleaning works involving two men.
One of them was initially feared to have drowned.
Firefighters conducted an initial search by boat around the overturned excavator before locating the victim and bringing him to shore.
The body was later handed over to the police for further action.
