DALAT: The remains of a Form One student who was found drowned in the Oya River here on Tuesday afternoon were taken to Kuching for cremation yesterday. The 13-year-old student identified as Bryan Lim Jing Ming, went missing after he fell into the OyaRiver from a boat he boarded with two friends at Dalat Bazaar Waterfront.
According to Officer-in-Charge of Mukah Division Fire and Rescue Department, Bonny Martin Saging, they received a call from the police at 4.17pm.
“We then immediately dispatched an EMRS with three firemen led by PBK II Abu Hadi Harry. They arrived at the scene at 4.56pm as our station is about 40 kilometres away. During the SAR (search and rescue) operation we used the surface searching technique,” he said. It is learnt that apart from firemen the SAR operation also involved other agencies such as the police from Dalat District Headquarters, members of the Civil Defence Force (APM) and villagers.
Lim’s body was discovered by the villagers at about 5.38pm and was taken to a jetty before a police vehicle took it to Dalat District Hospital. According to a source, the late Bryan Lim, a student of SMK Dalat of Chinese-Melanau parentage, did not know how to swim.
He was said to be returning from a tuition class and joined his two friends as they lived on the same river bank near Temenggong Mat Win Bridge.
Police are still investigating to determine the actual cause of the fatal incident which caught the attention of residents of this upcoming district. Since several sightings of crocodile were reported of late in Oya River, riverine activities have been very much reduced.
