KUALA TERENGGANU: The Terengganu State Fire and Rescue Department have deployed drones in a search and rescue (SAR) operation for a suspected drowning victim at Pantai Baru Burok here today.
State operations commander, Baharum Mohammad Hasim said two patrol boats, including those from the marine police and the Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), were also used to locate the victim, identified as Zulkarnain Mohamed Zubir, 44.
However, he said the search using boats and drones had to be halted at 7pm., but shoreline search operations will continue until the victim is found. "Officers and members of the Water Rescue Team were also deployed to conduct the search after receiving a report of the incident, around 11.31am.
Based on the current, the victim will be drifted to the left side of at the mouth of the Terengganu River," he said when met at Pantai Baru Burok here today.
In this morning's incident, Zulkarnain Mohamed is feared to have drowned after being swept away by currents at Pantai Batu Burok, around 11.20 am.
The victim's wife, Nora Elina Abdul Khalil, 44, from Petaling Jaya, was with their two daughters playing in the sand on the beach at that time.
Commenting further, Baharum Mohammad said the search and rescue operation for Zulkarnain Mohamed will continue with shoreline patrols along a stretch of about three kilometres to Pantai Chendering.
He said the state fire and rescue department cannot use fiberglass boats for search and rescue operations due to waves reaching one to two meters high. "Officers and PPDA members also cannot dive due to strong currents at the bottom," he said.
Earlier today, 44-year-old Nora Elina Abdul Khalil could only witness in anguish as her husband was swept out to sea at Pantai Batu Burok
The woman had the harrowing experience of seeing her husband, Zulkarnain Mohamed Zubir, 44, being engulfed by waves.
She spotted Zulkarnain resurfacing several minutes after the waves had swept him away around 11.20am, but was unable to save him.