KOTA KINABALU: A 36-year-old man went missing near a Tawau river after a crocodile attack.
The man was seen mauled by the large reptile while fishing on Sunday (Oct 27) at Ladang Palm Rides Kalabakan.
The Fire and Rescue Department said a witness called for help at 7.24pm and sent a team to the location, which was 105km from the Tawau fire station.
They were assisted by Merotai and Kalabakan volunteer firemen, the police, Sabah Wildlife Department, Civil Defence Force and villagers.
“The integrated search and rescue effort on Monday (Oct 28) was done within a 3.2km search radius from where he went missing.
“The operation will continue today and information will be updated from time to time,” said the department spokesman on Tuesday (Oct 29).
Meanwhile in a separate incident in Semporna, the body of a 60-year-old man, who went missing while fishing at a river, was discovered on Monday (Oct 28) by villagers.
A distress call was made by the public at 11.27am, reporting that the man, who was a foreigner, had failed to return home after leaving to fish at 6am on Sunday.
“The villagers conducted an early search and found his boat unattended.
“The body was then found by villagers around 1.30pm, about 1km from where his boat was spotted.
“The firemen retrieved and handed the victim over to the police team who declared his death on site,” added the department spokesman.