TRAGIC: The body of the teenager being brought to the hospital for a post-mortem. — Photo by Yong Ted Phen
KOTA KINABALU: The body of the 18-year-old teenager who went missing four days ago was found at Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.
The victim, identified as Ali Harun, from Kampung Meruntum, went missing after he had gone to the sea to fish in the waters between Sulug and Dinawan Islands near Kinarut around 5am on Thursday.
When he did not return home, family members informed the Fire and Rescue Services Department and a search operation was mounted around 4pm the same day.
Personnel from the scuba unit of the Fire and Rescue Department found a capsized boat somewhere near the Dinawan Island, which was believed to have been used by the teenager.
The boat was towed back to Kg Meruntum the same day.
It was also learnt that the boat’s propeller was damaged, indicating that it might have hit something which caused it to capsize.
City police chief Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Sofi Zakaria confirmed the incident, adding that the police would investigate the death as a drowning case.
A personnel at the Gaya Island base camp found a bloated body around 7.10am yesterday and officers from the city police headquarters and the marine police were rushed to carry out an investigation at the scene.
The victim’s father has confirmed that body was that of his son.
The body was brought to the Queen Elizabeth hospital for a post-mortem.