KOTA KINABALU: When Katherine Tsen Kin Lin was rescued during the floods earlier this month, all she could think about was getting to safe ground.
Understandably, the 68-year-old just went through a traumatic experience after being trapped with a family member in their vehicle, which had fallen into a hole that they did not see because of floodwaters in Penampang near here on July 1.
She was not even aware that the person who carried her off from the vehicle that day - the photo of which made it into the news and went viral on social media - was Penampang OCPD Supt Sammy Newton.
Once she found out later that it was the district’s top cop who saved her life, she made it a point to see him to convey her gratitude in person.
“I am very lucky and today I am at the Penampang police station to say thank you for all they have done for us,” she said on Wednesday (July 24).
“I was pleasantly surprised and touched because he is dedicated to serving the community,” added Tsen.
On what happened on that day, Tsen said they were returning home from the Keningau district when they were trapped at the Kasigui roundabout.
She said the signs were already ominous, with the weather being bad all throughout the journey and several landslides occurring along the Penampang-Keningau road.
“When we reached the roundabout, we saw a car abandoned on the roadside but we decided to drive through the floodwaters so we could get home quickly.
“Unfortunately, we got caught in the hole and we were trapped there, unable to continue our trip. I was really scared at the time because I had never been in such an experience,” Tsen said.
She said two men on a motorcycle who had passed by the route had helped to get them out to the back of their four-wheel drive vehicle.
“The men told us to walk to get further assistance but I just couldn’t as my legs were in pain,” she said.
After sensing no help was coming, she said, she decided to call the Penampang police station.
“Thank goodness the police came and rescued us,” Tsen said.
It was previously reported that Supt Sammy and his men were checking out the flood situation in Kampung Kolopis, one of the worst-hit areas, when they spotted a four-wheel vehicle that had plunged into a hole with its rear pointing to the sky at 6.30am.
He said they waded through waist-high water and he later carried Tsen on his back to the police vehicle before sending her and the family member to a temporary flood shelter.
