Man drowns trying to retrieve ball
Iskandar Shah Mohamed and Siraj Mohd Zaini
PIX courtesy of Fire Department & readers
SHAH ALAM: An 26 year old amateur football player drowned while trying to retrieve a ball from a lake at Eco Ardence, Setia Alam here, today (Wednesday).
The victim's body, Khairul Anuar Hashim, who was a member of Sarban FC club, was found by the Selangor Fire and Rescue Department's Water Rescue Team (PPDA) at 2.35am.
The lake, which is used as a recreational area by residents in the vicinity, is located near a football field. The victim's team was playing a friendly match there.
A friend of the victim, who wished not to be identified said in the 10pm incident, Khairul Anuar was said to have volunteered to pick up the ball which was about 20 meters from the shore.
"He was believed to have jumped into the lake and was getting very near to the ball when he suddenly drowned.
"At that time, he was wearing a red jersey and football boots.
"Everything seemed normal and he was swimming well initially, but he did not manage to get hold of the ball and disappeared from view," he said when met by NSTP at the scene.
The incident caused panic among visitors and friends who shouted and tried to help, but as the place was a bit dark at that time, it was difficult to do anything.
The victim's brother Mohd Hakimi, 30, said he rushed to the scene after receiving a call from his (brother) friend at around 11pm.
"At that time, I was at the Paya Jaras Army Camp, and was shocked when told of the incident.
"My brother was the fifth child of six in the family, and single. He was a part-time administrative student at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM). We are from Kuala Klawang, Negeri Sembilan.”
Meanwhile, the state's Fire and Rescue Department operations management chief Alimaddia Bukri said following an emergency call at 10.11pm, a team from the Kota Anggerik fire station was rushed to the scene.
He said the search and rescue operation comprised 35 personnel from the fire department, the police and Civil Defence Force (APM).
"The body was discovered 3 metres down the lake, and almost 15 metres from the shore.
"The rescue effort was a bit difficult as it was quite dark and the water muddy, but we managed to find the victim," he added.
Alimaddia said the deceased was taken to Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR) Klang for a post-mortem and the case was handed over to the police for further action.