Kuala kangsar: Less than a year after mourning the loss of their eldest child, a family here is once again grieving after their youngest son died following a fall from Victoria Bridge in Enggor, Kuala Kangsar, Perak, on Monday.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the victim's father, who wished to be known only as Abd Halim, 42, said his eldest daughter was only 16 when she died last year, following a four-month battle with an illness doctors were unable to diagnose. He expressed that the family was still coping with the loss of their eldest daughter when tragedy struck again with the death of Abdul Rafee, three.

Abd Halim shared that he had decided to take his family to Perak during the National Day holiday as they had not gone on a holiday together for more than a year. The family had hoped to find some solace and create new memories, but the trip turned tragic.

Recalling the incident, Abd Halim said he first checked the condition of the Victoria Bridge before taking Abdul Rafee for a walk along the more than 125-year-old structure. However, as they tried to make way for several people taking photographs on the bridge, Abdul Rafee stepped on a rotten piece of wood, causing his hand to slip from his father's grasp before he fell.

Abd Halim urged the public not to be quick to blame him and his wife, emphasizing that they had done their best to care for and ensure the safety of their children. He also called for regular inspections and maintenance at tourist attractions, especially those involving old structures, to prevent similar incidents.

On Monday, the victim was reported to have died after he was believed to have fallen about five meters from the bridge at around 6.30 pm while visiting the site with his father. Following the incident, the Kuala Kangsar Municipal Council (MPKK) immediately closed public access to the iron structure of the Victoria Bridge as a safety measure. Abdul Rafee was laid to rest at the Kampung Baru Muslim Cemetery.