Man drowns in Muar river while testing boat

MUAR: A 36-year-old man drowned after falling into Sungai Belemang at Kampung Olak, Bukit Pasir here when he was testing his new boat.

Muar Fire and Rescue Department operations commander Rafidah Aziz said that the incident occurred last Saturday (Nov 18) at 5.32pm.

"The victim, Halit Wahot, fell into the river about 2.7km from the Kampung Olak jetty.

"A total of 34 firemen were deployed, including seven members from the water rescue unit.

"Ten fishermen and other personnel from the police, Civil Defence Force and Rela joined the search operation," she said in a statement on Monday (Nov 20).

The search was conducted within a 3km radius from where the victim reportedly fell into Sungai Belemang.

"The operation was halted at 8pm on Sunday (Nov 19)," she said, adding that dive teams could not be deployed as there were crocodiles in the 2.7m-deep river," she said.