KUBANG PASU: Quick action from a Civil Defence Force officer and other members of the public prevented a teacher from drowning when her car plunged into a canal here today.
Nor Elina Md Radzi, 36, was driving alone when she suddenly lost control of her Proton Persona, causing the car to plunge into the Alor Chengalih irrigation canal in the 1.30pm incident.
Civil Defence Force officer Kamalruzamal Kasa was in his car, several vehicles behind Nor Elina’s when the incident took place.
He immediately jumped out of his vehicle and ran to the canal and dove in.
Kamarulzamal managed to pull Nor Elina out of her vehicle, and with the help of other members of the public, got her out of the canal.
Describing what happened later, Kamalruzamal said he and Mukim Naga headman Sulaiman Hashim were on patrol rounds to monitor the flood situation in the area at the time.
“Suddenly, upon approaching a junction towards Kampung Paya Dudur, a Proton Persona skidded and then plunged into the canal. Without second to waste, we immediately rushed to the car and pulled the driver to safety, fearing that the car would be swept away by the strong currents due to floods in the district,” he said.
He advised Nor Elina, who teaches at SK Telok Malik, to lodge a police report before she was taken to her home in Alor Star.