Youth missing after falling into river

2010/01/01

KOTA BAHARU: A motorcyclist went missing after he fell into Sungai Pengkalan Datu near Kampung Panchor here early today.

The victim, identified as Ridzalani Ramli, 18, from Taman Uda, was believed to have been trying to evade a police patrol on New Year's Eve.

His mother Rohani Abdul Ghani said Ridzalani, the fourth of five siblings, had earlier gone with his elder brother to visit his grandfather who was sick at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) hospital in Kubang Krian.

Rohani, 51, said her son was supposed to take care of his grandfather that night but he could not make it as he had to take a driving lesson yesterday.

"He went home and then left on a motorcycle without the knowledge of others at home. I only knew about it early yesterday after receiving a call from his friend," she said when met at the scene.

Her husband Ghani Che, also 51, is working as a fireman in Sepang, Selangor.

Pengkalan Chepa fire station chief Mohd Shukri Ismail said they were informed by the public about the incident at 1.45am.

He said six scuba divers from the Kota Baru fire and rescue station and six volunteer firemen were involved in a search and rescue operation together with other parties since morning.

Up to evening, his body has not been recovered.