Man found alive after missing for 5 days in Sarawak jungle

 Police say the 22-year-old was found in a weakened state but uninjured.

Richard Lee Apang being carried out of the jungle by rescuers. (JBPM pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 A man reported missing after entering the jungle behind a longhouse along Jalan Penyulau/Lukut in Kanowit, Sarawak, last week, was found safe today on the fifth day of search and rescue efforts.

The Borneo Post reported Kanowit police chief Junical Ujal as saying longhouse residents discovered the 22-year-old at around 11:55am while assisting in the search. “He was found in a weakened state but uninjured,” he said.

The operation involved police, the fire and rescue department, Civil Defence Force and longhouse residents. The search officially ended at 1pm.

Previous reports identified him as Richard Lee Apang, who left his longhouse last Saturday without identification documents or a mobile phone.

A separate search was launched yesterday for a man feared drowned after he failed to return from fishing in Sungai Kanowit at Nanga Sebuloh near Julau.

The fire and rescue department said it received a distress call at about 1.50pm regarding the disappearance of Geoffrey Senah, 39.

“Initial information indicated that the victim had gone out in a boat to cast his net at about 7am yesterday,” said the department.

Senah did not return home, and his boat was later found drifting with his belongings still inside, except for the fishing net.

Villagers initially searched for Senah but failed to locate him, leading them to contact the fire and rescue department for help.

“The search is being carried out within a 1km radius of the victim’s last known location,” said the department. - FMT