Father drowns while trying to rescue his daughters

A man drowned while trying to save his two young daughters after the girls slipped into Sungai Ah Tong, Panching, here, today.

In the noon incident, Ahmad Ramzi Hassan, 40, from Taman Tas, drowned while trying to save Eva Syakila, 11, and Eka Syakira, 7.

The victim's younger brother, Ahmad Borhan, 35, who was at the scene of the incident, said they were at the river since morning as Ahmad Ramzi had to complete some work there while his daughters who came along, were playing in the shallow part of the river.

"I was on high ground when my brother phoned me saying there were a lot of fish in the river and asked me to come down with a fishing rod. Suddenly, I heard my two nieces screaming and saw them almost drowning in the river.

"My brother and I jumped into the river to save the two girls. I managed to bring them to land and gave them cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

"However, after the CPR, I realised that my brother was not there and went looking for him at the river but I failed to find him," said Ahmad Borhan when met at the Forensic Unit, Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital, here.

He said he called his wife to get help. A fire and rescue team soon arrived at the location and a while later, found Ahmad Ramzi's body a short distance away from the scene of the incident.

Pahang Fire and Rescue Department public relations officer, Anuar Hassan said the victim's body was found in the river at 2.50pm and then sent to Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital.