Divers continue mission to find boy feared drowned in Tanjung Malim river

TANJUNG MALIM – Fire and Rescue Department’s Water Rescue Team (PPDA) starts its diving operation in Sungai Bernam to find a boy feared to have drowned while bathing at Lubuk Gelap Simpang 4, near here, today.

The operation, which entered its third day, involved 52 members of several agencies to search for the eight-year-old victim Edward Grang Anak Jenggut who was reported missing while bathing with his family last Saturday.

Perak Fire and Rescue Department Operations Division assistant director Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad said a total of 11 members of the PPDA would scour several places at the scene of the incident.

"The river current was strong yesterday after it rained at 4am and today the water current is slow and not cloudy.

"This can help the PPDA team to dive at several areas. The search and rescue team (SAR) had also extended their search perimeter to four kilometers up until the area at Tanjung Malim town," he said when contacted by Sinar.

He said two tracker dogs namely Lady and Grouse were deployed to help find the victim.

Sabarodzi added that the dogs arrived at the location on Sunday and helped in the operation by riding a wheely boat.

"Additionally, we also set up a 'trap point' as one of the strategies and tactics for the rescue, covering 2.5km from the last location the victim was seen.

"A rescue group from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) also assisted in the operation, by rafting and kayaking to conduct the search operation," he said.

Previously, it was reported that the search and rescue operation started on Saturday after a victim, wearing a black swimsuit with green spots, had disappeared after bathing with his family.

The victim was believed to have drowned at about 5pm.