MUKAH: The body of a man feared to have fallen into Batang Igan river while returning home from his vaccination appointment was found afloat yesterday (June 28).
A spokesman from the State Fire and Rescue Department operations centre said the victim, identified as James Maun, 48, was discovered by villagers at 4.35pm, about 500 metres from the control post.
Rescuers, who were alerted of the finding, rushed to the scene and retrieved the body.
The victim was confirmed by his family members before being handed over to the police for further action.
Earlier that day, the victim and three members of his family were on their way home after receiving their jabs at Dalat Stadium vaccination centre.
According to the victim’s father, James was feared to have fallen into the river while navigating a boat home from his appointment.
The operations centre received a distress call around 2pm pertaining to the incident at Kampung Sungai Kut Tengah.
Mukah firemen were immediately despatched to the scene to carry out water surface searching with a 1-km search radius.
Also involved in the search were Mukah police and local villagers.
