TANJUNG MANIS, 3 May – The body of a man who was feared to have drowned after falling into a river two days ago was discovered this morning near a factory area in Tanjung Manis.
The deceased was identified as Tan San Belati, 40, from Rumah Lambai, Sungai Mapai, Kanowit. He had reportedly fallen into the river early yesterday morning near a jetty while heading to a trawler after a conversation with a colleague.
According to a statement from the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Operations Centre (PGO), the victim’s body was found by members of the public at 7.50am, near the WTK Factory, about three kilometres from the Search and Rescue (SAR) operation’s control post.
Following the report, Senior Fire Officer II Salahudin Mohd Dawood and four firefighters from the Tanjung Manis Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) were immediately dispatched to the scene.
“Upon confirmation, the body was handed over to the police at around 8.50am and the SAR operation was officially ended,” the statement said.
Earlier, witnesses shared that the victim was last seen wearing short jeans and a blue collared shirt and was believed to have slipped while descending the jetty before falling into the river.
Initial search efforts by his colleagues failed to locate him. A nearby security guard was notified, who then lodged a police report, triggering a coordinated SAR effort by the authorities.
The tragic incident serves as a grim reminder of the importance of safety measures when navigating jetties and riverine areas, especially during early morning hours or in low visibility conditions.
