BELURAN: An elderly man who was searching for nipah shoots at the mouth of the Kampung Air river was found drowned last night.
Damat Anggah, 80, was discovered about 10 metres from his boat at 11.45pm by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
His body was handed over to police for further action.
Earlier, the victim was reported to have set out by boat to search for nipah shoots about 1.5 kilometres from Kampung Air jetty.
At around 11am, villagers passing by the area reported to the family that the victim was not on his boat.
Subsequently, at 3pm, the victim's son went to inspect the area with a friend and only found the father's hat near the boat.
A search was then conducted by villagers before an emergency call was made to 999 for search and rescue (SAR) assistance.
Beluran Fire and Rescue Station Chief Edoen Macheal said the team received an emergency call regarding the missing person at 5.51pm.
"Six personnel from the Beluran Fire and Rescue Station were dispatched to the scene to conduct the SAR operation.
"Upon arrival, the search was conducted near the victim's boat along the river using surface water rescue techniques with a village boat," he said in a media statement today.
He added that the victim was found deceased about 10 metres from his boat by APMM on the first day of the SAR operation.
"The body was handed over to the police, and the operation was concluded at 1am," he said.