GERIK: The search operation for a missing woman feared to have drowned in Sungai Air Beruk, Kampung Kerunal, took a heart-wrenching turn yesterday when the victim's father, Azizan Md Din, 60, chanted the call to prayer at the scene.
Before reciting the prayer, he was seen calling out to his daughter, Nur Arina, 20, asking her to appear.
"Ana, come up and show yourself. I've been waiting so long. I want to see you, and your mum wants to see you too," he cried, repeatedly calling his second child's name.
Earlier, Azizan had expressed his determination to remain at the temporary command centre set up near the location until his daughter was found.
Nur Arina's cousin, Norazila Mohamad Yusuf, 49, said that the incident occurred when the family of five, including the victim, her mother Saripah Ahmad, 48, and three siblings aged between 11 and 13, were on four floats in the river.
At 2.30pm, the victim's float separated from the others, which were headed towards the Lembaga Air Perak cleaning pump.
"At that point, Arina got off the float and tried to swim toward the rest of the family."
"She struggled in the water, and Saripah tried to help her, but she too could not stay afloat. Saripah called out for help from nearby villagers," Norazila said.
Saripah was rescued with the help of villagers but, tragically, Arina was swept away by the strong current.
The ongoing search operation involves 57 personnel, including officers from the Fire and Rescue Department, police, Civil Defence Department, and local villagers.