KUALA LUMPUR: The bodyguard who was nearly killed when he was shot while protecting a client at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in April is raring to return to work.
Muhammad Nur Hadith Zaini, 38, said his spirit was not broken by the shooting that left him in a coma and required him to undergo three intestinal surgeries.
Although he has to be careful when moving around and avoid heavy work for up to a year, Nur Hadith said he was determined to get back into the field.
Speaking on the shooting, Nur Hadith said he recalls smelling sulfur at the arrival hall in KLIA before seeing firework-like flashes go off.
"I moved to protect the VIP (his client), and that was when I was shot in the abdomen," he told Harian Metro.
"I did not realise I was shot and was focused on moving, on doing my job. Others around stopped me (from moving), telling me I was bleeding heavily."
Before the incident, Nur Hadith said he only escorted VIPs six or seven times as he was not a full-time bodyguard.
Nur Hadith returns to work today as a security guard at a media agency.
"(I) will still take on part-time work as a bodyguard," he said.
On April 14, Nur Hadith was shot by a man who attempted to harm his wife at KLIA.
However, one shot missed, while the other hit Nur Hadith in the abdomen.
The suspect Hafizul Harawi, fled the scene and was later arrested by police in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.
On April 25, Hafizul was charged at the Sepang Sessions Court with attempted murder of his wife and injuring the bodyguard at KLIA.
Security at the airport has been beefed up since the incident.