42yo boat capsize victim found dead in Sungai Banting, SAR operation concludes

Rescuers transporting the body of the victim who drowned in a boat capsized incident in Sungai Banting, Lingga on June 3, 2026.

By DayakDaily Team

LINGGA, June 3: A 42-year-old man who went missing after a boat capsized in Sungai Banting was found dead on the second day of search and rescue (SAR) operations today, bringing the operation to a close.

The victim, identified as Gerald Lansam, was discovered at about 4.10pm by villagers, approximately 300 metres from the Fire and Rescue Department’s (Bomba) operational post, before his body was handed over to authorities.

In the incident reported on Tuesday (June 2) at about 1.15pm, a boat carrying nine passengers suffered engine failure and drifted uncontrollably before striking a bridge pillar and capsizing due to strong river currents.

Eight of the passengers, comprising adults and children, were successfully rescued by villagers using nearby boats.

Gerald, however, was last seen holding onto a bridge pillar before he disappeared beneath the strong current.

The search and rescue (SAR) operation, led by Bomba Sri Aman, was activated on the same day and continued today with support from multiple agencies, including the police, Civil Defence Force (APM), Sarawak Rivers Board, and local villagers.

Search operations were carried out along Sungai Banting, initially covering a 1-kilometre radius before being expanded to 5 kilometres downstream. A K9 unit with a detection dog was also deployed to assist in the search for the victim. — DayakDaily