Disabled woman feared drowned after falling off bridge near home in Dungun

KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 — A 47-year-old woman with a mental disability is feared to have drowned after allegedly falling from a bridge into a river near Bandar Al Muktafi Billah Shah (AMBS), Dungun, yesterday morning, according to Sinar Harian.

The Malay daily reported that the incident occurred at about 10.30am on Jalan Jabor-Paka, around 100 metres from the victim’s home.

Dungun police chief Supt Nik Ab Halim Nik Mat said the victim, identified as Nor Haslini Din, is believed to have been swept away by the river current after falling from the bridge.

He said the victim’s 77-year-old father, Din Zakaria, witnessed the incident and tried to save his daughter but was unsuccessful.

“Her father tried to rescue the victim but failed before she was swept away by the current and disappeared from sight,” he was quoted as saying.

Nik Ab Halim said a search and rescue (SAR) operation was launched immediately after authorities received an emergency call about the incident.

According to Sinar Harian, 27 personnel from the Royal Malaysia Police and the Fire and Rescue Department were deployed for the operation.

Search efforts have covered a two-kilometre stretch of the river from the scene, but the victim had yet to be found as of late this afternoon.