LAWAS: The body of a 55-year-old man was found floating in a river in Kampung Seberang Kedai in Trusan near here yesterday morning, three days after he was reported missing.
The villagers who found the body still fully clad and with his shoes still on immediately informed the team which had been conducting a search and rescue operation for him since Friday.
Lawas Fire and Rescue Department chief Zaki Husi said the body was found at 8.30am and had been sent to the Lawas Hospital mortuary.
Of Bugis origin but a Malaysian citizen, it is understood that his family members in Peninsular Malaysia will come to Lawas to claim his body.
At 3pm last Friday, it was feared that the victim had drowned after the boat he was in with two friends capsized while crossing the river to Kampung Seberang Kedai Trusan.
According to sources, both his friends managed to swim ashore while the victim who could not swim went down under the strong river current.
The victim, who worked as a labourer, was a resident of the village.