Kupa’s body being carried ashore after it arrived at the Kubu Jetty.
KAPIT: The body of 43-year-old Tuai Rumah Kupa Manggom was recovered by the search and rescue team (SAR) at around 8am yesterday.
While waiting for the body to arrive at the Kubu Jetty along Jalan Kub Lama here, OCPD DSP Freddy Bian said the SAR team comprising eight personnel from the Fire and Rescue station and police spotted the body floating at Nanga Sebetong, which is half
an hour longboat ride from Karangan Ara, Baleh River where the victim disappeared in the turbulent waters on Friday afternoon.
Upon arrival here around 10.50am, the body was then transported by a police vehicle to Kapit Hospital mortuary.
It was a very emotional moment for Kupa’s family members and relatives when his body was carried on the stretcher to the police land rover.
Hulu Rajang MP Datuk Wilson Ugak and Bukit Mabong district officer Douglas Pungga were among those waiting at the jetty for the arrival of Kupa’s body.
The tragedy occurred when a longboat ferrying four passengers – three men and a woman – from Kapit to their home at Rumah Kupa along Sungai Stapang, a tributary of Sungai Ga’at in Baleh capsized in the turbulent water.
The two men and woman were saved by longboats passing by but the longhouse chief disappeared in the strong current.
Following the incident, Kupa’s elder brother Kanchin Manggom lodged a police report here, after which the SAR team was immediately mobilised.