MELUDAM: A crew member who was reported missing after he jumped into the Batang Saribas to avoid a collision between a tugboat and a bridge pillar last night (Apr 7), has been safely located.
The incident happened near Kampung Beladin as the tugboat, manned by four crew members, was en route from Kuching to Beladin.
A spokesman for the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) said the vessel’s engine sustained damage, causing it to drift along the river and collide with a bridge pillar.
Faced with the emergency, two crew members, aged 20 and 39, opted to leap into the river, while the remaining two, aged 27 and 30, stayed aboard.
One crew member swam to the riverbank and was rescued by villagers, while the other went missing.
Firefighters from Saratok station were promptly dispatched to the scene, about 59km away, after receiving a distress call at 10.40 pm to initiate a search and rescue (SAR) operation.
Due to nightfall, the search was temporarily halted at 1.30 am. However, rescuers were later informed by Beladin police that the missing crew member had been found safe.
Based on information, the crew member had drifted to the opposite side of the river near the Raja Udang oil palm plantation, about 20km from where he jumped into the river.
He subsequently made his way to the plantation’s control post seeking assistance, and a security guard escorted him to the Pusa ferry pier at 7 am to be handed over to authorities.
