KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — A river fisherman is feared to have drowned after he was believed to have been swept away while attempting to swim across Sungai Pahang near Kampung Peragap, Temerloh, today.

The victim, Samsul Azmi Ishury, 41, was reported missing at about 7.30am, prompting a search and rescue (SAR) operation by the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), according to an Utusan Malaysia report today.

Temerloh Fire and Rescue Station operations commander PBK II Muhammad Lutfi Burn Abdullah said his team received an emergency call at 7.30am before deploying firefighters to the scene.

He said initial information from witnesses indicated that the victim had tried to swim across the river before being carried away by strong currents and feared drowned.

Muhammad Lutfi said search efforts are currently focused along the river with assistance from police.

He added that the Water Rescue Team (PPDA) from the Bukit Angin Fire and Rescue Station had also been alerted to assist in the operation.

Rescue operations are ongoing.

KUANTAN, June 3 — A man believed to have been swept away by strong currents while attempting to cross Sungai Pahang at Kampung Peragap, Temerloh yesterday was found drowned today.

A spokesman for the Pahang Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) said the body of Samsul Azmi Ishury, 41, was discovered at 9.35am, approximately 2.2 kilometres from Kampung Loyang, Temerloh.

“Efforts to bring the victim ashore were carried out and the body was handed over to the police for further action,” he said when contacted today.

He added that a firefighter sustained a fractured left arm after being trapped between a boat and a fish cage during the search and rescue (SAR) operation yesterday, and was taken to Hospital Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, Temerloh for further treatment.

Apart from the fire and rescue department, the operation also involved the police, the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), and was assisted by local villagers.

The media reported yesterday that the man was feared drowned after allegedly being swept away while attempting to swim across the river at Kampung Peragap, before firefighters arrived at the scene at about 8am to conduct the SAR operation. — Bernama