SARATOK – The four-day search for a missing Myanmar ship crew member ended tragically today when villagers discovered his body in Sungai Lubok Petan, near Kampung Kupang, in a gruesome condition.
The victim, identified as Thu Htoo Aung, 20, was a crew member of the vessel Moi Soon 2. His body, found at about 12.23pm, was missing its upper half, believed to have been bitten off by a crocodile.
According to the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Operations Centre, villagers alerted the authorities after spotting the body floating in the river. The Operations Commander, together with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), immediately dispatched a rescue boat to the site, arriving at 12.35pm.
The body was brought to a nearby jetty for formal identification. At 1.30pm, police confirmed the victim’s identity before handing over the remains for further action. The search and rescue (SAR) operation officially concluded at 1.40pm.
Thu Htoo Aung was first reported missing last Friday after falling into the Krian River near the Batu Wharf in Saratok Town. The incident occurred around 9.30am while he was performing maintenance work on the ship.
Colleagues reported that he failed to resurface after the fall, prompting immediate search efforts by nearby crew members. However, their attempts proved unsuccessful.
At the time of the incident, the victim was reportedly wearing brown trousers and short rubber shoes, without a shirt.
Local residents suspect the presence of crocodiles in the river may have contributed to the horrific state of the body. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of a crocodile attack and urge caution to those working or travelling along the riverbanks.
This incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of Sarawak’s rivers, where crocodile sightings are not uncommon.
