Tanah merah: A 46-year-old man managed to save his eight-year-old son from drowning before he himself was swept away by strong currents in a sand dredging area of a river near their house in Jalan Kampung Sat, Tanah Merah, today.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Tanah Merah Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) Operations Commander Roslan Ismail said the victim, identified only as ‘Budin’, had gone for a walk with his son when the boy fell into the river. “Although the man managed to save his son, he was swept away by strong currents. The victim’s full identity has yet to be confirmed as we are waiting for the return of the closest family member, who had taken the child home,” he told Bernama.

Roslan stated that they received an emergency call through MERS (Malaysian Emergency Response Services) 999 at 7.26 pm, and a team was dispatched to the scene, about 3.6 kilometres away, arriving at 7.45 pm. “Upon arrival, we requested the help of the Water Rescue Team (PPDA) to carry out a search and rescue (SAR) operation,” he said.

He added that the SAR operation is still ongoing, with personnel from the Tanah Merah BBP and the PPDA collaborating with the police and local residents to speed up the search process.