Latest news with #WaterRescueUnit
Sinar Daily
08-07-2025
- Sinar Daily
'Tears rolled down my cheeks': Rescuer's anguish over family of six found drowned
With over ten years of experience in the fire service, a rescuer described this particular case as the most distressing and tragic he has ever faced. 08 Jul 2025 03:49pm Hasri (inset) was visibly overcome with emotion as bodies of the six family members were recovered from the submerged car in Sungai Korok, Jerlun. – Awani photo ALOR SETAR – 'I couldn't hold back my emotions, tears rolled down my cheeks as each body was pulled from the car.' Those were the emotional words of Mohammad Hasri Haslan, 31, a member of the Water Rescue Unit (PPDA) from the Jitra Fire and Rescue Station. The missing family of six were tragically found in a submerged car in Sungai Korok. – Bernama photo He recalled the heartbreaking rescue mission involving a family of six whose car skidded and plunged into Sungai Korok, near Jerlun. With over ten years of experience in the fire service, Hasri described this particular case as the most distressing and tragic he has ever faced. 'This is by far the most emotional and tragic case I've been involved in. 'The moment that truly broke me was when my fellow team members and I lifted the bodies of a six-month-old baby and three young children. It was heartbreaking," he said. Speaking at the scene where the vehicle was discovered, Hasri recounted the moment they broke the rear window of the Proton Iswara and saw the victims huddled together in the back seat. All six family members were laid to rest in a single grave on Monday night. - File photo 'The first body we recovered was a young girl, followed by the baby boy, then a young boy. The fourth was another girl, then their mother, and finally, the father, who was driving. 'I'm a father myself. Seeing the baby's lifeless body brought me to tears. It was devastating to imagine what they went through," he added. Despite the emotional toll, Hasri and his team pressed on with their duties, determined to bring the family home with dignity and care. The tragedy was reported on Monday, following the discovery of all six family members who had gone missing early Saturday morning after visiting relatives in Taman Seri Aman. Their vehicle was found submerged in Sungai Korok, with all of them still inside. The victims were identified as Mohamad Azim Izat Ishak, 32, his wife Nurul Hidayah Khadijah Razman Efendi, 31, and their four children: Putra Rayyan Nur Izzat, 9; Hawa Adriana Nur Izzat, 8; Annayla Humaira Nur Izzat, 7; and baby Tuah Haydar, just six months old. All six were laid to rest together in a single grave at the Kampung Bohor Karang Muslim Cemetery in Jerlun at approximately 11:50 pm on Monday night. - AWANI More Like This
Daily Mail
27-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Police divers called in search for schoolboy, 13, who vanished near river - after frantic overnight bid to find him
Police divers have been seen searching a river after a 13-year-old boy vanished last night. Mylo Capilla was last seen at around 9pm last night, near Ingleby Barwick, wearing a dark t-shirt and trousers. Mylo is believed to have gone with his friend to the river near to Ramsey Gardens, known locally as the 'muddies', and entered the water. A major search operation was launched as five ambulances, a specialist Water Rescue Unit, mountain rescue crews, police officers and search dogs rushed to the scene at Ramsey Gardens yesterday evening. The housing estate, near the River Tees, has since been cordoned off as they continue to search for the young boy into the early hours of this morning. Today, police divers have been seen searching the river. Cleveland Police Assistant Chief Constable Dave Sutherland said: 'Since the report at 9pm last night (Thursday 26 June 2025), officers have been conducting extensive searches throughout the night to try and find Mylo. 'These searches are continuing this morning with specialist teams including the police drone and dogs alongside support from Cleveland Fire Brigade, National Police Air Service, marine water and mountain rescue. 'This is understandably hugely distressing for Mylo's family, friends and the wider community. 'While I know members of the public want to help, I would ask you not to search near the river for your own safety and to allow specialist teams to conduct this work in their profession 'Instead, can I please ask you to speak directly to an officer at the scene. 'We are doing all we can to find Mylo and I would ask anyone who has information to please get in touch by calling 101.' Last night, Police have urged members of the public helping to locate Mylo to avoid the river, and to scour the streets in pairs instead. Speaking to Teesside Live, a local said there were dozens of residents tirelessly searching for the 13-year-old boy. 'You can see them all in groups of like five or six. There's men and women, some of them are in their dressing gowns,' they said. Speaking last night, a Cleveland Police spokesperson said: 'Officers are appealing for information that will help them find Mylo Capilla who has been reported missing. 'The 13-year-old boy was last seen at 9pm on Thursday 26 June at the 'Muddies' on Ramsey Gardens in Ingleby Barwick. 'Mylo is believed to be wearing a dark t-shirt and dark bottoms.' They added: 'While searches are ongoing, officers are reminding members of the public in the area to liaise with them directly and for their own safety not to enter any water.' A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: 'We are currently on-scene at an on-going incident in Ingleby Barwick in Stockton. 'We received the call at 21:29 and currently have one ambulance crew, one duty officer and three crews from our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) on scene and we are being supported by our colleagues at the police and fire services.' A Tees River Rescue spokesperson said: 'Our crews were called out at around 9.15pm on June 26 2025, to assist with searches along the river Tees. 'We would like to reiterate to any public who may be assisting with the search do not enter the water and do not get too close to steep banks. 'We deployed 2 boats and our welfare vehicle with 8 volunteers in total, we will continue to provide support as requested. We will provide no further details.'
Sinar Daily
14-06-2025
- General
- Sinar Daily
Fire Dept's elite water rescue unit: Braving dangers to recover drowning victims
KOTA BHARU - Diving into the pitch-black depths of a lake or river to search for drowning victims is a perilous mission fraught with hidden dangers. Relying solely on the ropes that connect them to the surface, divers from the Water Rescue Unit (PPDA) - an elite unit in the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM) specialised in handling water-related incidents and emergencies - leave no room for error during their search and rescue operations. In certain states, such as Kelantan and Sarawak, the team also contends with another danger - crocodiles that lurk beneath the murky river water. Officially established on Jan 1, 2004, PPDA has teams stationed in every state to support search and rescue operations in rivers, lakes, mining pools, dams and flooded areas. In Kelantan, where floods occur annually during the monsoon season, PPDA teams are stationed in three locations: Pengkalan Chepa (in Kota Bharu), Pasir Puteh and Tanah Merah. STRONG CURRENTS, WHIRLPOOLS Commenting on PPDA's operations in the state, JBPM Kelantan director Farhan Sufyan Borhan told Bernama their biggest challenge arises when victims go missing in rivers, most of which have strong currents. "In swift-flowing rivers, the challenge is even greater because anything afloat can be swept tens of kilometres away from the original location, and if the current exceeds four knots, diving becomes nearly impossible,' he said. Citing a recent incident in Kuala Krai, he said two Orang Asli men fell into a river and their bodies were only found after four days. "One body was found about 25 km away and the other nearly 30 km,' he said, adding that usually, a body resurfaces within 48 hours but water temperature, depth and current speed can delay the process. Rivers in Kelantan, he added, are also rocky and some areas contain whirlpools, further increasing the risk for rescuers. "If diving is not possible due to certain conditions, the PPDA team will switch to a surfacing strategy, that is, wait and monitor locations where a victim's body is likely to appear. "This monitoring work is far from easy. It demands patience, discipline and emotional strength as every passing moment carries a glimmer of hope,' he said. He also said certain locations are known as crocodile zones but that does not mean operations cannot be carried out there. "Usually, when crocodiles hear the sound of a boat engine, they move away. The sound serves as a signal for them to retreat to another area but we still can't take anything for granted,' he said. According to him, caution is always a priority and any sign of danger, no matter how small, is taken into account before team members are allowed to dive. "We will never let anyone enter the water if the risk is unpredictable. Strict procedures must be followed. Our team members' lives are not to be gambled with,' he said. EMOTIONAL BURDEN Beyond physical challenges, PPDA members often endure emotional strain, especially when faced with pleas like "Please bring my child home'. "Every time they dive into the water, they don't know what they'll find. Sometimes the body has been in the river for days and all that's left are the feet, hands or scraps of clothing. Even if the body is decomposed, decayed or unrecognisable, the divers still bring the remains back to shore,' he said. The stench of decomposing bodies, nauseating to most, has become an everyday reality for the team members, though the smell sometimes lingers on their clothing. Sometimes the team's operations involve wading through polluted, blackened water full of trash, toxic waste or sewage. Bernama FILE PIX "Sometimes their operations involve wading through polluted, blackened water full of trash, toxic waste or sewage. All of this is part and parcel of the team's work. "What's more, their duties are not limited to finding drowning victims. They also assist other agencies, like the police, in locating evidence submerged underwater,' he added. RISK OF DEATH Despite being considered an elite team, PPDA members are not immune to deadly risks while on duty. The tragedy that claimed six members of the PPDA on Oct 3, 2018, still haunts many of them and serves as a stark reminder of how close they are to death with every operation. The six divers drowned during an operation at night in search of a teenager who fell into a disused mining pool in Puchong, Selangor. That incident remains the worst tragedy in PPDA's history since its establishment. "Fire department divers are trained for all situations, including night operations and handling unexpected events. But sometimes, unforeseen issues arise and at that moment, it's not just technical skill but also mental strength that's needed,' Farhan Sufyan said. He said although PPDA members are trained to dive in darkness, they generally avoid night dives unless absolutely necessary. "We're not afraid of the darkness itself but of the hidden dangers such as sudden current shifts and floating debris that can't be seen. At night, even a small mistake can turn into a tragedy,' he said. RIGOROUS TRAINING To be a member of PPDA, firefighters must undergo specially designed basic training to ensure only the most qualified are chosen. "Some of the tests they have to undergo include floating unaided for five minutes, jumping from a height of 10 metres and swimming nonstop for 600 metres. "These tests are only to assess their basic eligibility. Only those who pass will proceed to a five-week intensive course at the Northern Zone Fire Academy in Tronoh, Perak,' he said, adding it is also important to remember that not everyone who passes the tests has the mental strength to bring back the remains of drowned victims. Every year, PPDA members must undergo a re-evaluation to assess their competence and health levels. "Diving requires both physical and mental endurance, so every member must be 100 percent fit,' he said. - BERNAMA
Barnama
09-06-2025
- General
- Barnama
Hidden Dangers Faced By Bomba's Elite Divers
D iving into the pitch-black depths of a lake or river to search for drowning victims is a perilous mission fraught with hidden dangers. Relying solely on the ropes that connect them to the surface, divers from the Water Rescue Unit (PPDA) – an elite unit in the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM) specialised in handling water-related incidents and emergencies – leave no room for error during their search and rescue operations. In certain states, such as Kelantan and Sarawak, the team also contends with another danger – crocodiles that lurk beneath the murky river water. Officially established on Jan 1, 2004, PPDA has teams stationed in every state to support search and rescue operations in rivers, lakes, mining pools, dams and flooded areas. In Kelantan, where floods occur annually during the monsoon season, PPDA teams are stationed in three locations: Pengkalan Chepa (in Kota Bharu), Pasir Puteh and Tanah Merah. STRONG CURRENTS, WHIRLPOOLS Commenting on PPDA's operations in the state, JBPM Kelantan director Farhan Sufyan Borhan told Bernama their biggest challenge arises when victims go missing in rivers, most of which have strong currents. 'In swift-flowing rivers, the challenge is even greater because anything afloat can be swept tens of kilometres away from the original location, and if the current exceeds four knots, diving becomes nearly impossible,' he said. Citing a recent incident in Kuala Krai, he said two Orang Asli men fell into a river and their bodies were only found after four days. 'One body was found about 25 km away and the other nearly 30 km,' he said, adding that usually, a body resurfaces within 48 hours but water temperature, depth and current speed can delay the process. Rivers in Kelantan, he added, are also rocky and some areas contain whirlpools, further increasing the risk for rescuers. 'If diving is not possible due to certain conditions, the PPDA team will switch to a surfacing strategy, that is, wait and monitor locations where a victim's body is likely to appear. 'This monitoring work is far from easy. It demands patience, discipline and emotional strength as every passing moment carries a glimmer of hope,' he said. He also said certain locations are known as crocodile zones but that does not mean operations cannot be carried out there. 'Usually, when crocodiles hear the sound of a boat engine, they move away. The sound serves as a signal for them to retreat to another area but we still can't take anything for granted,' he said. According to him, caution is always a priority and any sign of danger, no matter how small, is taken into account before team members are allowed to dive. 'We will never let anyone enter the water if the risk is unpredictable. Strict procedures must be followed. Our team members' lives are not to be gambled with,' he said. EMOTIONAL BURDEN Beyond physical challenges, PPDA members often endure emotional strain, especially when faced with pleas like 'Please bring my child home'. 'Every time they dive into the water, they don't know what they'll find. Sometimes the body has been in the river for days and all that's left are the feet, hands or scraps of clothing. Even if the body is decomposed, decayed or unrecognisable, the divers still bring the remains back to shore,' he said. The stench of decomposing bodies, nauseating to most, has become an everyday reality for the team members, though the smell sometimes lingers on their clothing. 'Sometimes their operations involve wading through polluted, blackened water full of trash, toxic waste or sewage. All of this is part and parcel of the team's work. 'What's more, their duties are not limited to finding drowning victims. They also assist other agencies, like the police, in locating evidence submerged underwater,' he added. RISK OF DEATH Despite being considered an elite team, PPDA members are not immune to deadly risks while on duty. The tragedy that claimed six members of the PPDA on Oct 3, 2018, still haunts many of them and serves as a stark reminder of how close they are to death with every operation. The six divers drowned during an operation at night in search of a teenager who fell into a disused mining pool in Puchong, Selangor. That incident remains the worst tragedy in PPDA's history since its establishment. 'Fire department divers are trained for all situations, including night operations and handling unexpected events. But sometimes, unforeseen issues arise and at that moment, it's not just technical skill but also mental strength that's needed,' Farhan Sufyan said. He said although PPDA members are trained to dive in darkness, they generally avoid night dives unless absolutely necessary. 'We're not afraid of the darkness itself but of the hidden dangers such as sudden current shifts and floating debris that can't be seen. At night, even a small mistake can turn into a tragedy,' he said. RIGOROUS TRAINING To be a member of PPDA, firefighters must undergo specially designed basic training to ensure only the most qualified are chosen. 'Some of the tests they have to undergo include floating unaided for five minutes, jumping from a height of 10 metres and swimming nonstop for 600 metres. 'These tests are only to assess their basic eligibility. Only those who pass will proceed to a five-week intensive course at the Northern Zone Fire Academy in Tronoh, Perak,' he said, adding it is also important to remember that not everyone who passes the tests has the mental strength to bring back the remains of drowned victims. Every year, PPDA members must undergo a re-evaluation to assess their competence and health levels. 'Diving requires both physical and mental endurance, so every member must be 100 percent fit,' he said.
