MIRI: A 33-year-old man, Douglas Tibi, who was reported missing while on duty at the Sabah-Sarawak Gas Pipeline (SSGP) near Long Jegan in Tinjar, Baram on Friday was spotted by a drone deployed by a search and rescue (SAR) team yesterday morning.
Zone 6 Fire and Rescue Department chief Supt Law Poh Kiong said Douglas was found safe after he was seen through the drone’s camera from Petronas SSGP’s team around 11am some 2km from where he was last seen.
“Rescue personnel on their way to the location were informed of the victim’s location. Upon arrival at 11.15am, the department’s team continued their search on foot along a forest trail that led to the victim.
“The victim suffered injuries to his left leg from a sprain and was taken out of the forest by the SAR team before he was brought to Long Lama Health Clinic for further examination,” said Law in a statement yesterday.
The operation ended at 3.15pm.
The SAR operation which included personnel from Petronas SSGP, Satok Bridge Area Consulting Engineering and Douglas’ family members was mounted by firefighters from Lopeng station after they received a report from the police at 6.30am yesterday.
According to the report lodged by Douglas’ colleague from Satok Bridge Area Consultancy & Engineering Services, they were checking the slope condition along the pipeline near Long Jegan around 3pm when Douglas told him to lead the way and he would follow.
He inspected the 4km pipeline alone expecting Douglas to follow.
However, when his colleague arrived at the company’s vehicle was waiting to take them back at 6.30pm Douglas was not there.
The driver and his colleague waited until 8pm before searching for him unsuccessfully within a radius of 400m along the pipeline. They then lodged a police report yesterday morning.
Douglas was found by the search and rescue team at about 11.01am yesterday.
Long Jegan, a Berawan longhouse in Tinjar, Baram is located about four hours’ drive from Miri city. -theborneopost.com
