Coconut tree falls on man
Food supplier dies shortly after being flung 100m
IPOH: A delivery trip to the wet market turned out to be a fatal mistake for a 72-year-old traditional Malay food supplier when he was crushed by a falling coconut tree along Jalan Sungai Nibong.
Abdul Rashid Tahir, from Sungai Lampam, died at the scene at about 9amyesterday, said Hilir Perak OCPD Asst Comm Goh Kok Liang.
“A coconut tree on the left side of the road suddenly fell due to strong winds.
“The impact caused the victim’s motorcycle to be flung about 100m away to the middle of the road.
“A post-mortem conducted at the Teluk Intan Hospital revealed that the victim died of abdominal injuries as his spleen had ruptured,” he said.
Security guard Zuhairi Mohd Ibrahim said he saw the tree falling, but did not know that it had crushed a man.
“It was only when I went closer that I saw it had landed on the man.
“Together with a few other people, we tried to move him to the side of the road but was advised against doing so until the ambulance arrived,” said Zuhairi.
He added that Abdul Rashid was still alive at the time. His eyes were open but he was very weak.
Abdul Rashid’s son, Abdul Nasir, 42, said they were informed of the death by a neighbour who happened to pass by Jalan Sungai Nibong at the time.
“Our family accepts this as God’s will although it saddens us that we will never get to spend another Hari Raya with him,” he said.
Abdul Nasir, who is a hospital employee, added that his father was always happy during Hari Raya as all of his 10 children would return home.