HULU SELANGOR: The 43-year-old man who drowned with his two children in Sungai Balak, Batang Kali, at noon yesterday has been described as a reserved yet helpful person.
The victim’s brother-in-law, Mohd Azri Azahar, 39, said Arif Fadzil Abdul Saleh, a businessman involved in classic motorcycles, was a good husband to his wife (Mohd Azri’s younger sister).
According to Mohd Azri, the last time he saw the family was during Hari Raya Aidilfitri last month, however, Arif Fadzil was in Japan for a business trip.
Mohd Azri said he received a call about the incident at 4 pm before rushing to Kuala Kubu Baharu Hospital.
“Arif Fadzil, his wife and their seven children aged between one and 13 came here for a picnic. They also have a shop and house here in Batang Kali,” he told reporters at the compound of the hospital’s Forensic Unit.
Mohd Azri said funeral rites would be conducted at the Ar Rahimah Jamek Mosque here, and the remains would be laid to rest in Kuala Lipis after the completion of post-mortem examinations.
Meanwhile, the Hulu Selangor district police chief, Supt Ahmad Faizal Tahrim, in a statement, said members of the public retrieved the victims’ bodies at 1.30 pm before the arrival of rescue teams.
It is believed that Arif Fadzil jumped into the river to save his nine-year-old daughter, who slipped into the water, he said.
“Unbeknownst to the mother, their six-year-old son also jumped into the river. All three victims were confirmed dead at the scene by health officers and the bodies were sent to Kuala Kubu Baharu Hospital for post-mortem examinations,” he said, adding that the case is classified as sudden death. – BERNAMA
