New Straits Times

BODY OF DROWNED TEEN FOUND

Father glad body in good condition

- FAZRIK KAMARUDIN AND NURUL HIDAYAH BAHAUDIN cnews@nstp.com.my

THE body of the teenager whose rescue operation led to the drowning of six firemen on Wednesday has been recovered from the mining pool here where the tragedy took place.

The body of Muhammad Ilham Fahmy Muhammad Azzam, 17, was found at 5.45pm, floating some 800m from where he was reported to have fallen into the pool in Taman Putra Perdana.

His father, Muhammad Azzam Naim, 46, identified his body before it was taken to the Serdang Hospital mortuary.

Azzam, when met at the scene, thanked the authoritie­s involved in the search-and-rescue (SAR) operation.

“I am glad that my son has been found. Although sad, I’m relieved his body is in good condition.”

He said the family planned to bury Ilham at the Taman Putra Perdana Muslim cemetery the same night.

Sepang police chief Assistant Commission­er Abdul Aziz Ali said various methods were used to look for Ilham’s body, including diving, water surface rescue and water pumping. Rescuers also used dogs to try to find the body.

“After 24 hours, the victim was found some 800m from where he was reported missing. The victim was dressed only in his pants.

“He was found by firefighte­rs who were assessing the area with our K9 (dog) unit.”

Upon discoverin­g the body, Aziz said, firefighte­rs deployed boats to retrieve it.

“The body was identified by the victim’s father before he was sent to Serdang Hospital to determine the cause of death. The case has been classified as sudden death.

“Further investigat­ion are being conducted, including recording statements from the victim’s two friends who were at the scene during the incident.”

He said the SAR operation ended at 6.30pm. He thanked the agencies involved.

 ?? PIC BY ROSDAN WAHID ?? Search-and-rescue personnel retrieving the body of Muhammad Ilham Fahmy Muhammad Azzam from the Taman Putra Perdana Puchong mining pool yesterday.
PIC BY ROSDAN WAHID Search-and-rescue personnel retrieving the body of Muhammad Ilham Fahmy Muhammad Azzam from the Taman Putra Perdana Puchong mining pool yesterday.

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