MIRI: A search and rescue (SAR) operation has been launched to locate a man who is feared to have drowned after he went to check his fishing nets at an oil palm plantation in Batu Niah yesterday (Feb 9).
A spokesman from the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) said they received an emergency call pertaining to the incident at noon.
Following that, firemen from Batu Niah station were promptly deployed to the scene, some 75 km from the station.
It was believed that the victim identified as Robin Simpurai, 33, had gone with a friend to check on their fishing nets, installed in a ditch at the plantation.
The victim’s net is said to have been stuck and the victim dove into the water and failed to surface.
His friend then lodged a police report at the nearest police station for further action.
On arrival, the team carried out the search by surface searching and diving.
The friend also informed them it is possible that the victim was sucked into a nearby ditch culvert.
However, at 1.30 pm, the divers reported that the swirling water and strong currents at the bottom of the ditch were too dangerous for them.
For safety reasons, the diving operation was called off at 3 pm and the plantation’s excavators were roped in to dig the ditch culvert.
As at press time, the victim is yet to be found and the search is still ongoing.
