KENINGAU: A teenage female caddy of a golf club here died a day after her neck was struck by a wayward golf ball at the golf course.
District police chief DSP Robert Salisip @ David confirmed the incident yesterday and said the 12-year-old victim, Alminda bt Jalimin, a Filipina who did not have any documents, was staying at a kongsi house near the MDK housing estate here. He said the caddy was pronounced dead a day after the incident.
“The incident took place on January 31 about 2.40pm at the golf club’s course. At the time, the caddy was on duty carrying the bag of a golfer at hole no. 12. Reportedly, the caddy was standing on the fairway some five to six metres to the side of where another golfer was about to play his next shot. When the golfer hit the ball, it apparently shanked and hit the caddy’s neck on the right side causing her to collapse and became unconscious,” Robert said.
The victim was rushed to the emergency unit of Keningau General Hospital by the public and was given outpatient treatment by a doctor. At about at 11.30pm, the caddy was brought back to the house by her father and mother.
According to Robert, after the treatment, the caddy was not able to walk on her own so her father had to carry her to the kongsi house where they live.
“Initially, the victim was able to talk and speak about the incident. But later, she complained of headaches and began vomiting. Her condition became more serious and she died on February 1 at 5am,” he said.
According to Robert, based on their enquiries, the victim was not suffering from any other diseases and had been working as a caddy at the golf club here since she was ten years old.