MM - Six firemen dead while searching for body of drowned teen:
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 — Six firemen drowned while on a search and rescue operation for a teenager who earlier fell into a mine in Taman Putra Perdana, Cyberjaya this evening.
Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Azmi Osman said the six firemen were part of a search and rescue team that was responding to the drowning case of a 17-year-old teenager who had fell into the mine at 5.50pm.
Initial investigations suggest the six firemen were swept away by strong currents.
“All six firemen were immediately brought out and the medics performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) but it was too late.
“All six were pronounced dead at the scene,” he said.
The six firemen were all attached to the water rescue dive team from Shah Alam and Port Klang fire station.
The bodies were sent to Hospital Serdang.
It is learnt that the teenager’s body has yet to be recovered.
Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Azmi Osman said the six firemen were part of a search and rescue team that was responding to the drowning case of a 17-year-old teenager who had fell into the mine at 5.50pm.
Initial investigations suggest the six firemen were swept away by strong currents.
“All six firemen were immediately brought out and the medics performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) but it was too late.
“All six were pronounced dead at the scene,” he said.
The six firemen were all attached to the water rescue dive team from Shah Alam and Port Klang fire station.
The bodies were sent to Hospital Serdang.
It is learnt that the teenager’s body has yet to be recovered.
I really don't know what to say about this monumental disaster, not only for the Fire Department, but for Malaysia and all Malaysians.
One of the most dangerous jobs in civil service is that of the fireman who deals with conflagration, explosions, floods, accidents, disasters, snakes and even cats that have been stuck in trees, etc. He (she) handles a generally thankless job which society seldom appreciates.
Firemen do the same jobs all over the world. For example, during the 9/11 incident in New York, the bravest people were the firemen, many of them lost their lives serving the public.
In Australia, many Firies (as firemen are known affectionately by) had perished in fighting bush fires.
I salute them and in particular the six Malaysian firemen who gave their lives in their effort to help a youth. Condolences to their families.
Al Fatihah.
Very sad tragedy.
ReplyDeleteThey were roped together, to ensure they could help each other if one of them got into difficulties.
Which is normally a good idea.
In this case, somehow, this lead to all 6 dead.
Firstly Al Fatihah/RIP for all those who died doing their duty and to their families.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, I must question how the 6 died? Why the casualties are so high when it could have been avoided or casualties minimised?
1. It was reported that it took up to 30 minutes to pull them out of the whirlpool when they were all pulled in together via a safety rope attached one to another. They lost their diving equipment due to the strong currents and after they were pulled out unconscious, none of them could not be revived by medical authorities. Who can survive underwater for 30 minutes without breathing apparatus?
2. Why wasn't the safety rope anchored to a strong station? Were there no standby safety boats before the operation started? Why did it take so long (30 minutes) to rescue those firemen? Were the standard SOPs for such operations followed to the letter or skipped due to inexperience or "Tidak Apa Attitude" of the Officer in charge of operations?
3. If negligence is proven on the Officer in-charge of the operations, he must answer for all these unwarranted high casualties.
Offering condolences is not enough to the families when 6 precious lives are lost and if due to negligence or "Tidak Apa" attitude, they must be held accountable.
And no such excuses of "God/Gods/Allah will" is acceptable for such a preventable tragedy if negligence is proven.
WHY nobody asks the question of HOW could 6, supposedly trained divers(?) died in a mining pool?
ReplyDeleteAs a trained diver who has been to many extreme diving expeditions all over the world, my conclusion IS the authority ordering those drivers (more likely amateurish learners) to their dead mission is highly unethical & unprofessional!
How treacherous can a mining pool be, with a supposedly whirlpool setup! Whirlpool in a limited size mining pool IS just hogwashish excuse for blur-sotong consumption to cover up the blunder of sending ignorant to their death.
Heads SHOULD roll!
People tend to be clever only after the incidents.
ReplyDelete