MELAKA: A soldier fulfilled his wish to meet his favourite elected representative, Duyong assemblyman Datuk Mohd Noor Helmy Abdul Halem, before collapsing and dying at a running event here yesterday.
The incident occurred around 10pm yesterday, when Staff Sergeant Mohd Irfan Faizal Ismail, 41, was participating in the 5km Fireman Run 2024 in Banda Hilir Melaka, which was also attended by Helmy.
Helmy said the deceased had taken a group photo with him before starting the run. However, he was later informed that the victim had collapsed during the lucky draw after completing the 5km run.
"I was told that a participant had collapsed and was taken to the ambulance. He was confirmed dead at the hospital at 10.25pm.
"I went to the Forensic Unit of the Melaka Hospital to visit the victim's family, and I was informed that the deceased had participated in this event because he wanted to meet me.
"I didn't expect that to be our first and last meeting," he told reporters.
It is understood that the deceased, who was stationed at the 1st Brigade headquarters in Kem Rasah, Negri Sembilan, had joined the army in June 2004 and was scheduled to retire in June next year.
The funeral arrangements will be carried out by the 1st Brigade headquarters and Irfan will be buried at the Kampung Kuala Paya cemetery in Segamat, Johor.