KOTA KINABALU: An 11-year-old boy could not do anything but cry upon seeing his younger brother being swept away by a strong current at Sungai Inanam in Kampung Tatahan on Wednesday.
DROWNED: Sing’s body was found five kilometres away from where he was swept away by strong current.
The victim, Sing Abdul Rahman, 9, was with his elder brother Negro, and three other friends were playing on the river bank before the 5pm incident.
“Prior to the incident, Sing and I, with three other friends were playing on the river bank, at that that Sing was just besides me. Suddenly he went down to the river although the other friends tried to prevent him,” he said when met at the scene.
Negro said he asked his younger brother to go back to the bank but it was too late as he was already being swept away by the strong current while trying to return to the bank.
“By that time, my brother tried to return to the band, but he could not do so because of the strong current as it was raining heavily,” he said.
Two of his friends, Aimin Roben,11, and Asbi Nor, 10, tried to help him but to no avail.
“I cannot do anything either because I cannot swim. I only asked for help from my two friends but they failed to grab the waving hands of my younger brother,” he said.
According to Negro, he was scared to tell the ordeal to his auntie who took care of
them and waited for his father Abdul Rahman Muslim, 40, to return home at 7pm.
The father, upon being informed of the incident, said he and several villagers immediately went to the scene to search for his son but failed to locate him.
Abdul Rahman then contacted the Fire and Rescue Department for assistance.
“During the incident, I was working at the city. I was only informed about it after I returned home when I looked for my son (the victim) as I was going to take him and his elder brother to buy some light food that I had promised him earlier,” he said.
“I am very sad as I was unable to fulfil my promise to bring him to go shopping,” Abdul Rahman said when met at the scene yesterday.
Meanwhile, Lintas Fire and Rescue Department public relation officer Mohamad Nor Amit said Sing’s body was found at 8.18am yesterday.
“Soon after being informed of the incident, two fire engines with seven personnel from Lintas were sent to the scene and conducted a search and rescue operation.”
“The body of the victim was found floating near a river bank five kilometres from where he was swept away,” he added.