A retired teacher from Kampong Keriam in Tutong yesterday morning drowned when his vehicle, a Mitsubishi Pajero plunged into the river upon reversing at the boat-offloading site near the Waterfront in Tutong Town.

Haji Anuar bin Haji Md Jaya, 59, was pronounced dead at the Duli Pengiran Muda Mahkota Hospital, Tutong.

According to the Tutong Station Commander Muhammad Ali, the incident was reported by the public at 10.06am. Led by the Station Commander, the Fire and Rescue Department team arrived on the scene two minutes later.

Speaking to the Sunday Bulletin, Muhammad Ali described the incident as unique. As they were informed that the victim was in the car when it submerged, the rescue team decided to use three anchors to haul up the car.

“But when we pull up the anchors, the victim’s clothes was hooked to one of the anchors. We’re still not sure how the victim got out but there is a probability that one of the anchors hit and broke one of the windows, thus letting him out.”

The victim, who was pulled out of the river, 20 metres offshore at approximately 10.29am, was given about 30 CPR on the rescue boat by the rescue team within two minutes before reaching the medics at the shoreline. Meanwhile, the car was pulled out 30 minutes into the rescue.

From statements collected from the public, the deceased was about to go fishing at the river when his vehicle along with his boat towed to it slid into the river when he was reversing into the boat-offloading gate.

Despite their prompt response, the low tide and high current slowed their operation. Twenty-five Fire and Rescue personnel consisting of divers from Berakas Fire Station, one brigade from Tutong and two from Berakas were involved in the operation.

Personnel from the Tutong District Office including the Assistant Tutong District Officer, Abdul Ghani bin Hj Othman and Commanding Officer at the Tutong Fire and Rescue Department (SSFR) Tahir Haji Moktal, as well as other Fire and Rescue and Police personnel were also at the scene.

On behalf of the Fire and Rescue Department, Muhammad Ali thanked members of the public for their assistance, particularly to Syarikat Haji Abdul Khani bin Abdul Kadir, for personally lending a crane for the rescue mission.

“Relevant authorities should improve the condition of the boat-offloading area to prevent such mishap from happening again,” he added. As of press time, the police said the case is still under investigation.