DEATH OF 6 DIVERS ‘1-IN-A-MILLION INCIDENT’
They were young, qualified, says deputy minister
THE tragedy that claimed the lives of six Fire and Rescue Department Underwater Rescue Team members at a mining pool in Taman Putra Perdana, Puchong, Selangor, was described as a onein-a-million incident.
Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad Baharuddin Shah said apart from adhering to standard operating procedures (SOP), the six divers were trained and certified to conduct underwater search-and-rescue operations.
“They were young, with the oldest being only 34 years old. It is unlikely that the six did not have the endurance or will to survive unless it was a bizarre and cataclysmic situation.
“This is a one-in-a-million incident, which took place in a small area with a water level that can be considered shallow.
“It is beyond anyone’s expectation and control.”
Raja Kamarul Bahrin said this after a visit to the Fire and Rescue Department headquarters here yesterday.
Present was Fire and Rescue Department director-general Mohammad Hamdan Wahid.
Hamdan said no one should question the qualifications of the divers as they were part of the Underwater Rescue Team.
“They were certified after undergoing a Public Safety Diving Course, a special training course designed to ensure that those who graduated qualified for the Underwater Rescue Team allowance.
“About 500 of the department’s divers went through the course, including the six who died in the incident. Each certified member has a logbook to record that he had followed protocols by undergoing training each month.”
Hamdan said anyone who failed to comply would not qualify for the allowance.
“They are not your typical firemen. Not everyone can do what they are trained to do.
“The Underwater Rescue Team members are sent to the Terengganu Safety Training Centre, a facility that has received international recognition in teaching diving and underwater operations.”
He said the officers did not use scuba gear as the rescue operation was carried out on the water’s surface, with the water reaching only chest-level.
He said before entering the water, an assessment of the area was conducted.
“But there is a different topography near the sluice. Based on the video, we could see the strong water current due to a downpour. Water is gushing into the river.
“The area also has a weir. In terms of SOP, including (having) guiding ropes, all were followed.
“The six did their job well. Unfortunately, one of them slipped and went under. We do not know what happened. Perhaps, the water was too strong and the rope and their equipment were tangled.”
He said the incident happened within 10 minutes and was beyond anyone’s control.
“We will conduct reviews to identify weaknesses and improve procedures.”