KENINGAU: The body of a man who was feared drowned while fishing with a friend at Kampung Sigapon, along the Pegalan River on Wednesday, was found sprawled on a rock in the river at 2.20pm, yesterday.
District police chief Deputy Superintendent Douglas Nyeging Taong yesterday said the victim, who had been identified as Justin Saikui, 21, was from Kampung Pamilaan in Tenom.
According to initial police investigation, the victim, together with his colleague known as Jemmy Binggi, 49, went out to fish on June 30 at 11.30 am, along the Pegalan River, and had spent the night at the scene.
“According to Jemmy, on July 1 at about 12.30 pm, they started fishing, and at the same time the victim felt very hot and went for a dip in the river, while Jemmy relaxed under a shade about 20 meters away from fishing spot,” Douglas said.
Douglas said at 1pm, Jemmy called the victim but there was no reply.
Jemmy then made a search for the victim but did not find him. Jemmy only saw the victim’s slippers and clothes.
He said Jemmy came home at Kampung Sigapon at 5pm and told the victim’s mother of the possibility that the victim could have been washed away in the river.
“On July 2 at about 9am, the mother of victim known as Angeline Saikwi, came to the Keningau police station to inform of the incident,” he said.
He said this was followed by a police report lodged by Jemmy on the same day in afternoon.
He said a search and rescue operation on the same day (July 2) was launched, involving members from the police, District Fire and Rescue Department, Civil Defence Department and villagers.
However, he said the victim was not found after the operation stopped at about 6pm.
“The search and rescue operation to find the victim continued yesterday (July 3) at 9.30 am,” he said, and added that the victim’s body was found at 2.20 pm yesterday completely dressed and sprawled on a rock about two kilometers from where the victim was reported missing.
Douglas said the case was classified as sudden death and no foul play was suspected.