Missing man found drowned in tragic fishing trip

PAKAN: A local man, reported missing during a fishing trip near a primary school in Nanga Wak, was found drowned last night (Aug 3).

The victim, 26-year-old Muhamad Ikram Imran from Penang, was a health personnel attached to Sarikei Hospital.

His body was discovered by the Sibu Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) diving team about 50 metres from where he was last seen.

A Bomba spokesman confirmed that Ikram’s body was handed over to the police to be transported to Sarikei Hospital for post-mortem procedures.

Following this, the search and rescue (SAR) operation was called off at 8pm.

Yesterday around 11.45am, firefighters from Bintangor station, along with police and the Civil Defence Force (APM), were dispatched to the scene after receiving a distress call.

The incident happened about 52km away from the Bintangor station.

It was reported that the victim and two friends had taken a boat to the nearby river bank to fish.

Later, Ikram dove into the river to release a hook stuck in the middle of the riverbed but was feared drowned after being swept away by the current.