SIBU: A man, feared drowned after his four-wheel-drive vehicle plunged into a drain along Jalan Ling Kai, shocked rescuers when he walked into the Sungai Merah Fire Station alive and well Saturday morning (Feb 1).
Fire and Rescue Department (BOMBA) Zone 4 chief Andy Alie said the 53-year-old man showed up at the Sungai Merah Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) at 10.57 am, hours after an intense search and rescue (SAR) operation was launched to locate him.
“The victim told us he had been driving alone when the accident happened. Fortunately, he managed to escape and was unharmed,” Andy said in a statement today (Feb 1).
With that revelation, the SAR operation was officially called off at 11 am. Earlier, BOMBA had received an emergency call about the incident at 12.12 am.
A team from the Sungai Merah Fire and Rescue Station rushed to the scene, braving floodwaters to reach the submerged vehicle.
“The rescue team trekked approximately 800 metres, wading through floodwaters about 2 to 3 feet deep,” Andy said.
At the scene, rescuers only found a backpack containing the victim’s identification documents but there was no sign of the driver.
“Divers from the Water Rescue Unit (PPDA) conducted three dives, but visibility was poor and they struggled to open the vehicle’s doors, which were trapped under three to four metres of water and blocked by concrete walls,” he said.
The operation was called off at 2.20 am, leaving rescuers fearing the worst—until the missing man made his unexpected appearance hours later.
