KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Navy has confirmed that a mine clearance diver from the Naval Diving and Mine Warfare Headquarters died during a salvage operation involving the sunken KD Pendekar.
The RMN in a statement said Leading Seaman I Arman San Hermansa died while diving during the salvage operation at the site of the wreck in waters off Tanjung Pengelih today.
"A special board of inquiry has been established to determine the cause of the incident," read the statement.
The navy said the officer's remains were currently at Sultan Ismail Hospital, Johor, for a post-mortem examination and will be transported to Lahad Datu, Sabah, for burial.
"The RMN will ensure all necessary assistance and support are provided to the family during this difficult time," it said.
Earlier, acting Kota Tinggi police chief Deputy Superintendent Mohd Syamsuri Muhammad had confirmed a police report was lodged but declined to elaborate, citing ongoing investigations.
It is learnt the RMN diver is a specialist deployed as part of a "cordon sanitaire" around the sunken 50-year-old fast attack craft wreck site.
KD Pendekar sank on Aug 25, after it struck an unidentified underwater object.
Previously, the New Straits Times reported that the RMN had deployed assault craft and other assets to provide a cordon sanitaire at the site, to ensure that sensitive equipment and materials related to operational security are not compromised.