KUALA LIPIS: A 43-year-old Singaporean national drowned after he was swept away by a column of water in Sungai Kuala Luis near Merapoh while hiking up Gunung Tahan on Saturday.
District police chief Superintendent Abdul Razak Hassan said Mohamed Nawaz Maricar, who was part of a 25-member team, was attempting to cross the river about 5pm when he was struck by the kepala air (water column).
He said the other participants alerted the police before they deployed a search and rescue operation along with the assistance of firemen and tour guides.
"Nawaz's body was found some five kilometers from the spot he was last seen about 7.30pm. The body was sent to Hospital Kuala Lipis about midnight for post mortem.
"Police have alerted the embassy to inform the family and make arrangements to send the body to Singapore for funeral," he said.
He said the victim along with three foreigners had joined another 21 locals to scale Gunung Tahan on Saturday.