KUCHING, March 1: After almost a week of intense search and rescue (SAR) efforts, a missing elderly man from Rh Luang, Roban, Sarikei has been found alive, just 300 metres from his home.
The 69-year-old man, identified as Kamoi anak Paun, was first reported missing on February 24 after his family realised he never returned home from a trip to the Roban market the previous day. Concerned for his safety, they immediately alerted the authorities, triggering a large-scale rescue operation led by Bomba Sarawak.
According to the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), search teams made up of firefighters, local villagers, and rescue personnel from Sarikei fire station were dispatched to comb the thick jungles surrounding Rh Luang.
Finally, on the sixth day of the operation, at 9.10am today (March 1), villagers involved in the search found Kamoi 300 metres away from his longhouse.
Kamoi was found alive but weak, with minor injuries on his hands and feet. According to his family, the elderly man suffers from high blood pressure and also has a weak heart condition, raising serious concerns during the week-long search.
Despite the dangers of being lost in the dense forest, Kamoi managed to survive by drinking water from the nearby Roban river and eating candies that he brought with him before he went missing.
After being found, Kamoi was immediately placed on a stretcher and carried back to his longhouse by the SAR team. Upon arrival, he was handed over to Saratok Hospital’s ambulance team for further medical checks.
The search and rescue operation officially ended at 11.50am today, bringing relief to the community and Kamoi’s family after an anxious and emotional week.
This incident highlights the importance of community cooperation during emergency situations, especially in rural longhouse areas where the jungle can be extremely dangerous for the elderly and vulnerable.
