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Friend watches helplessly as man drowns after falling from boat in Malaysia
๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท South Korea /Disasters & Emergencies

Friend watches helplessly as man drowns after falling from boat in Malaysia

From Chosun Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A man drowned in Sungai Kobat near Taman Impian after falling from a boat.
  • The victim, Muhammad Firdaus Zuharsema, 26, fell after the boat hit a piece of wood.
  • His friend, Badrul Afiq Jaillany Zam Zam, attempted to rescue him but failed as the victim could not swim.
  • Fire and Rescue Department personnel were dispatched to conduct a search and rescue operation.

A 26-year-old man drowned in Sungai Kobat near Taman Impian after falling from a boat, with his friend watching helplessly. Muhammad Firdaus Zuharsema fell into the water around 9:20 a.m. when the boat they were traveling in struck a piece of wood.

Saya cuba capai tangan dia, tetapi tak sempat. Dia terus tenggelam depan mata saya

โ€” Badrul Afiq Jaillany Zam ZamDescribing the moment his friend fell into the water and he was unable to save him.

Badrul Afiq Jaillany Zam Zam, 24, recounted the harrowing experience, stating, "I tried to grab his hand, but it was too late. He just sank before my eyes." He explained that the impact of the boat hitting the wood caused Firdaus, who was seated at the front, to be thrown into the river. In the ensuing confusion, Badrul Afiq lost control of the boat's engine, causing it to spin.

After regaining control, Badrul Afiq rushed towards his friend, who was struggling in the water and calling for help. "He didn't have time to shout anything. I knew he couldn't swim," Badrul Afiq said. He attempted to extend his hand to save his childhood friend, but his efforts were in vain as Firdaus submerged and disappeared.

Dalam perjalanan bot kami terlanggar satu bongkah kayu dan akibat pelanggaran itu, mangsa yang duduk di bahagian hadapan bot tercampak ke dalam sungai.

โ€” Badrul Afiq Jaillany Zam ZamExplaining the cause of the accident.

Panicked, Badrul Afiq immediately shouted for help from nearby individuals before the Fire and Rescue Department was contacted. A team from the Indera Mahkota Fire and Rescue Station, along with a rescue boat, was dispatched to the location to commence a search and rescue operation. The department received the distress call at 10:23 a.m.

Dia tak sempat jerit apa-apa. Saya tahu dia tak pandai berenang.

โ€” Badrul Afiq Jaillany Zam ZamRecounting his friend's inability to swim and his final moments.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Chosun Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.