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Simon Laja, the GOF staff who lost his life in the water column phenomenon.
MIRI (December 5): A General Operations Force (GOF) police personnel and a security guard were killed in a ‘kepala air’ (column of water) phenomenon in Sungai Melana, Long Kerangan in Baram last Thursday (December 3).
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Aidi Ismail said the GOF member has been identified as Sergeant Simon Laja, 47, from Sungai Berangan, Sarikei.
The other victim known only as Kemian, 50, was a security guard from the Sabah-Sarawak Gas Pipeline (SSGP) at Layun Camp in Ulu Baram.
According to Aidi, the two victims along with five other people, comprising two other security guards and three SSGP employees, were patrolling around the shallow river when the column of water incident occurred suddenly around 6 p.m.
“All were swept away by a column of water, but five managed to escape, while the other two (victims) disappeared,” he said in a statement.
The search for the victims was carried out with seven members of the GOF and 27 workers from the Samling camp who were divided into four groups.
“The first victim (Simon) was found at 2:00 p.m., while the second victim was found at 2:30 p.m. approximately 1 km from the first victim.
“Both victims were taken to the Long Lama Health Clinic in Ulu Baram and medical personnel confirmed them dead,” he added.
The bodies of the two victims were later sent to Miri hospital for further action.
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