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A FIVE-year-old boy has tragically been found dead, while his six-year-old sister and another family member remain missing following an incident near a cliffside in Sandakan, Sabah earlier today.
The toddler’s body was discovered by rescue teams around 7am, after an intensive search and rescue operation (SAR) had been launched at 1:30 am.
Sinar Harian cited Sandakan Chief Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) Severinus Sainkui, confirming the tragic incident, explaining that the department had received an emergency call at around 1 am.
"Five of our team members were immediately dispatched to the location, which is about six kilometres from the Sandakan Fire and Rescue Station," he said in a statement. "
Reports indicate that three family members had fallen from the cliff— a 29-year-old woman and her two children, aged five and six."
Sainkui explained that while the woman's cousin attempted to rescue the family, he too disappeared during the effort.
"The cousin, who tried to save them, also went missing along with the two children," he added.
Fortunately, the woman was rescued by members of the public and received initial medical assistance from the Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) team.
"Efforts to locate the remaining three individuals continued, and around 7 am, one of the children was found approximately 200 metres from the site where they had fallen," Sainkui continued.
"The child was confirmed dead, and the body has been handed over to the police for further investigation."
The search for the remaining missing persons, including the boy's sister and the woman’s cousin, is ongoing as rescue teams continue to comb the area in hopes of finding them safe.
Sainkui emphasised that the rescue operation would persist until all missing persons are located. The authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic accident. – March 30, 2025