Fishing trawler crewman feared drowned after struck by propeller
KUCHING: A fishing trawler crew member is feared to have drowned after being struck by the boat’s propeller at Muara Sungai Tabuan, here yesterday.
District police chief ACP Ng Ah Lek said the victim, identified as 53-year- old Herianto Ramly from Singkawang, Indonesia is thought to have been hit by the propeller around 10am.
“Prior to the incident, the 43year- old captain ordered one of his crew members to conduct an inspection in the water after the trawler’s propeller appeared to have malfunctioned. Following the inspection, the crew member climbed back into the boat and gave the captain the all-clear to start the engine,” he said when contacted.
Moments after the engine started, crew members saw traces of blood appear on the water surface not far from the propeller and immediately notified the captain.
A subsequent roll- call revealed that Herianto was missing, leading to the belief that the victim had gone into the water to check on the propeller without informing his crew mates.
“The captain suspected the victim went down (into the water) without notifying the others, and was struck by the propeller when the engine was turned on,” he said.
Meanwhile, Fire and Rescue Department ( Bomba) Sarawak assistant director Tiong Ling Hii said its personnel were deployed to search for the missing crewman following a distress call at 11.17am.
The search operation was called off at 5.30pm, and is expected to resume this morning.