PUCHONG: The body of the teenager whose rescue operation led to the drowning of six firemen on Wednesday was recovered from the mining pool here where the tragedy took place.
The body of 17-year-old Muhammad Ilham Fahmy Muhammad Azzam was found about 5.45pm, floating some 800m from where he was reported to have fallen into the pool in Taman Putra Perdana.
His father, Muhammad Azzam Naim, identified his body before it was taken to the Serdang Hospital mortuary.
Azzam, when met at the scene, thanked the authorities involved in the search and rescue (SAR) operation.
“I am glad that my son has been found. Although sad, I’m relieved his body was in good condition,” said the 46-year-old.
Azzam said the family planned to bury Ilham at the Taman Putra Perdana Muslim ceremony the same night.
“The funeral arrangements are underway,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sepang police chief Assistant Commissioner Abdul Aziz Ali said various methods were used in looking for Ilham’s body, including diving, water surface rescue and water pumping. Rescuers also used dogs to try to find the body.
“After 24 hours, the victim was found some 800m from where he was reported missing. The victim was dressed only in pants.
“He was found floating at a location by the firefighters who were assessing the area with our K9 (dog) unit,” he told reporters.
Upon discovering the body, said Aziz, firemen deployed boats to retrieve it from the water.
“The body was identified by the victim's father before he was sent to Serdang Hospital to determine cause of death. The case has been classified as sudden death, however, further investigation are being conducted, including to record statements from the victim’s two friends who were at the scene during the incident,” he said.
Aziz said the SAR operation was called off at 6.30pm and expressed his gratitude to all agencies involved.
Six Fire and Rescue Department water rescue unit members — Mohd Fatah Hashim, 34, Izatul Akma Wan Ibrahim, 32, Mazlan Omarbaki, 25, Yahya Ali, 24, Adnan Othman, 33, and 25-year-old Muhammad Hifdzul Malik Shaari — were killed during Wednesday’s operation.
They drowned while looking for Ilham at a weir.