A rescuer recounted a heart-rending moment when a 14-year-old Bangladeshi survivor of the deadly bus plunge in Genting Highlands pleaded to him and his colleague to look for his parents.
Raawlok Arefin was among 16 passengers who were injured in the tragedy which claimed 37 lives.
Civil Defence Department (JPAM) junior staff officer Hazwan Abdul Ghani, 24, said he was moved when the teenager pleaded to them, "Please find my mom", please find my dad, I want them, please".
Hazwan, who was the first rescuer lowered to the ravine by rope, said coincidentally he was undergoing a highland rescue training with five colleagues when he received a call from the JPAM communication centre in Dang Wangi at 2.30pm about the tragedy.
"We took along our training equipment to the scene. Along the way, I asked JPAM Selangor, Federal Territories and Pahang to dispatch machines and ambulances to the scene," he told Bernama here Thursday.
Hazwan said the accident was far worse than he had imagined and firemen from Genting had already cleared the path to the ill-fated bus by cutting up trees when he arrived.
"As I reached the wreckage, I saw a body stuck between rocks and the body of the bus driver in his seat with his right leg still on the pedal before I found the teenager who held out his hands. He told me that he hurt his shoulders.
"We placed a neck brace on him to prevent his movement before taking him up at about 4pm," he said, adding that he told another survivor in his 20s that he would come back for him.
The search and rescue operation was made easier with the arrival of a heavy-duty crane from Genting Highlands and more personnel from JPAM and other rescue agencies shortly after.
"As I continued to search for survivors, I heard a faint cry for help, but could not be certain where it came from.
"Apparently, it came from a man on the bus who was pinned down by three bodies. I had to remove the bodies before I could pulled the injured man who is a local in his 30s," said Hazman, adding that a drizzle later affected the operation.
Raawlok Arefin was among 16 passengers who were injured in the tragedy which claimed 37 lives.
Civil Defence Department (JPAM) junior staff officer Hazwan Abdul Ghani, 24, said he was moved when the teenager pleaded to them, "Please find my mom", please find my dad, I want them, please".
Hazwan, who was the first rescuer lowered to the ravine by rope, said coincidentally he was undergoing a highland rescue training with five colleagues when he received a call from the JPAM communication centre in Dang Wangi at 2.30pm about the tragedy.
"We took along our training equipment to the scene. Along the way, I asked JPAM Selangor, Federal Territories and Pahang to dispatch machines and ambulances to the scene," he told Bernama here Thursday.
Hazwan said the accident was far worse than he had imagined and firemen from Genting had already cleared the path to the ill-fated bus by cutting up trees when he arrived.
"As I reached the wreckage, I saw a body stuck between rocks and the body of the bus driver in his seat with his right leg still on the pedal before I found the teenager who held out his hands. He told me that he hurt his shoulders.
"We placed a neck brace on him to prevent his movement before taking him up at about 4pm," he said, adding that he told another survivor in his 20s that he would come back for him.
The search and rescue operation was made easier with the arrival of a heavy-duty crane from Genting Highlands and more personnel from JPAM and other rescue agencies shortly after.
"As I continued to search for survivors, I heard a faint cry for help, but could not be certain where it came from.
"Apparently, it came from a man on the bus who was pinned down by three bodies. I had to remove the bodies before I could pulled the injured man who is a local in his 30s," said Hazman, adding that a drizzle later affected the operation.
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