Rescuers lifting the vehicle that was retrieved from the Samarahan River.
KUCHING: The body of Barnabas Lias, 77 was recovered in his pick-up truck that was fished out of the Samarahan River at 3.11pm today.
According to the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), the operation to retrieve the vehicle out of the water started at around 12.30pm, as rescuers had to wait for low tide between 12.30pm to 1pm.
On May 14, the victim was said to be heading to Asajaya from Kota Samarahan via the ferry service around 7am.
Once on the ferry, Barnabas according to witnesses, tried to jump back into his vehicle after realising that it was still moving.
The police believed that Barnabas was attempting to pull the vehicle’s hand brake as it plunged into the river together with Barnabas inside.