By Elton Gomes
Duo missing in Kota Marudu forest found safe
KOTA BELUD: Two men who were reported missing in a forest at Kampung Losou Minonsod in Kota Belud since Monday, were found safe at Kampung Bambang Poring in Kota Marudu, yesterday.
Marzio Sllas bin Peter, 18, from Kg Bangkahak, Kota Belud and his cousin, Jus bin Donis, 22, from Kg. Losou Minonsod, Kota Belud were found safe and unhurt by villagers after they got lost in the forest for four days.
It was learned that both men with three friends had gone into the forest to fish at Sungai Tawaran at Kg Losou Minonsod, Kota Belud, at around 8am on July 24.
All five men were supposed to come out from the forest together by July 26 but Marzio and Jus had left a day earlier to go home.
When both men failed to return by July 27, family, relatives and friends immediately went back into the forest to look for them before lodging a missing person report at the Kota Belud police station.
A search and rescue operation was immediately launched for the missing men by 8am on July 28.
Fire and Rescue Department public relations officer Superintendent Mohd Affendy Ramin said 50 minutes into the SAR operation, Marzio's father received a telephone call from a villager claiming that his son and nephew were found by a river at Kampung Bambang Poring in Kota Marudu.
“Report stated that both men were unhurt but they were taken to Kota Marudu Hospital for outpatient treatment,” he said, adding that the SAR operation was call off at 9.30am yesterday.
Among the agencies involved in the SAR operation were Rela, JPAM, family, friends and villagers.