Body of drowned burger seller found

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KUCHING: The body of a burger seller, who drowned after he slipped and fell from a jetty at Kampung Sejingkat, was recovered by villagers on Thursday night.

RECOVERED: Awang (left) helps firemen put Nurulizam’s body into a cadaver bag.

RECOVERED: Awang (left) helps firemen put Nurulizam’s body into a cadaver bag.

The victim, identified as Nurulizam Tahir, 26, was found floating in the river not far from where he had fallen by members of the Rela unit around 8.30pm.

Nurulizam, who operates a burger stall in the Matang area, was believed to have fallen off the jetty around 7pm shortly after drinking with a friend.

The friend, Awang Busamah, 47, told reporters that Nurulizam, who stayed at nearby Kampung Senari, came to visit him around 5pm and the two of them proceeded to the jetty for drinks.

“Around 7pm, I walked back home to feed my pet monkey and left him (the victim) alone at the jetty.

“I came back several minutes later but found he was no longer there. I was told by several fishermen nearby that someone had fallen into the river,” recalled Awang.

At that point, Awang was still not sure if the person mentioned was Nurulizam, but feared the worst after finding his friend’s motorcycle helmet several metres downriver.

He joined in the search for Nurulizam together with villagers and the Rela unit until they located his body.

Police personnel from Gita Police Station, led by Chief Inspector Fauzan Abu Kassim, arrived at the scene to investigate.

Medical personnel certified the victim’s death assisted by a team of fire fighters. The victim’s family members, including his parents, were at the scene and accompanied the body to the mortuary.