SIBU (Dec 8): A 75-year-old man reported missing since Friday morning has been safely found, bringing relief to his family and the Kanowit community.
Lai Juing, who suffers from dementia, was last seen leaving for his orchard near Rumah Adrian at Sungai Ranan, Kanowit. When he did not return home, his family alerted the authorities.
The Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Sarawak received the report at 3.26pm on Saturday. A search and rescue (SAR) operation was immediately launched, with four firefighters from the Kanowit station leading the efforts.
Today, at 5.05pm, Lai was located approximately 7km from the longhouse by the SAR team. He was found unharmed and was later handed over to his grateful family.
Bomba Sarawak, in a statement, confirmed that Lai was wearing a dark blue shirt with a white inner lining and black long pants when he was last seen.
Family members and villagers expressed their gratitude to the SAR team for their dedication in finding Lai.
The incident highlights the importance of community awareness and swift action in assisting vulnerable individuals, particularly the elderly and those with medical conditions.
Authorities remind the public to remain vigilant and to report missing persons promptly to expedite rescue operations.