NO SIGN OF VICTIMS: Search and rescue personnel looking for Ying Qi and Herman in the storm drain at Rock Road. – Utusan Borneo photo
KUCHING: A Form 6 girl and a petrol station worker are missing after being swept away by rushing waters in a storm drain at Jalan Rock around 7am today.
Witnesses said the student, Kho Ying Qi, was on her way to school in rainy conditions, when she suddenly slipped and fell into the drain.
The 19-year-old is from Taman Fook Ngien at Mile 4 1/2.
A fireman, who had stopped at the petrol station due to flooding around the city, was informed of the incident by the station’s cashier and entered the rushing waters in an attempt to save her.
He apparently managed to grab hold of her hair but was unable to hold on as the girl was quickly swept into the underground drainage system.
When the fireman climbed out of the drain he was informed that petrol station worker Herman Sihas had earlier jumped in after the girl.
However, there was no sign of him.
Herman, 28, who is from Lundu, only started working at the petrol station recently.
His elder sister, civil servant, said it was not a surprising act that her brother had risked his own life to rescue Kho.
He apparently does not know how to swim.