PUTATAN, SABAH – A usual evening swim among 9 relatives turned tragic when four of them drowned at Gorongon beach here in Kampung Contoh, Petagas, yesterday (Tuesday).
Penampang Fire and Rescue Department spearheaded Search and Rescue Operations upon receiving the 6pm distress call.
Operations chief Misran Bisara said one by the one remains were brought to shore by 8.23 pm.
“Water surface search methods were used and thankfully the low tide had eased rescue efforts…
“The first body belonged to an 18-year-old female and the last one, found an hour later, was an 8-year-old male.”
It is learned that three of the victims aged 8, 13, 14, and 17 years are siblings.
“Their were found some 50 meters apart,” he said as operations closed at 9.40pm.
Penampang police chief DSP Mohd Haris Ibrahim meanwhile said the remains are scheduled for post-mortem at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
“A police team was dispatched to monitor SOP compliance since many village folk have come either to help or watch search developments,” he said.
Haris advised parents to keep a close eye on their kids especially during the lockdown where they should be at home.
Also at the scene was Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister Ir. Shahelmey Yahya.
The Tanjung Keramat Assemblyman said the government will be providing assistance to the affected families.
“I would like to remind the people here to always be careful when heading out to the waters seeing that this is not the first drowning here,” he said.
Father of the three victims. Amit Salleh Yusof, 61, said he was told the heartbreaking news by his wife just after finishing prayers.
“As soon as I received the phone call I rushed to the beach to find my family surrounded by rescue workers…
“The kids always played at the sea to return home. I accept their fate as predetermined by God,” he said.
Meanwhile, a sister in law to the victims, Norminah, 37, said the family lived in Inanam but had to remain in Petagas because of the Movement Control Order.
“They were happy to stay here because all the cousins were together. I could have never imagined our last meeting would be a few days ago…
“I am devastated because we were all so close,” she said holding back tears.
