PAPAR: A man was reported missing and feared drowned after he jumped into a river at Kampung Seri Menanti in Kinarut here today.
Nurharidzuan Muhammad, 25, was said to have jumped into Sungai Kinarut early morning but failed to resurface.
He was later found safe on an island.
A team of firefighters from the district fire and rescue department was dispatched to the river to conduct search and rescue operation after receiving a distress call of a person drowning at 3.40am.
The department chief Janil Jaya said 15 rescuers from the scuba unit immediately scoured the river where Nurharidzuan was last seen as well as along the riverbank.
“At 11.30am, we were informed that the man was found on Pulau Manukad, about two kilometres away from where he had jumped. He is safe.
“Apparently, the man claimed that he was chased by a motorcyclist which prompted him to jump into the river,” he said.
It was learnt that the man had swam to the island and hid there until he was found by villagers.
Janil said the man was handed over to the police and was taken to the district hospital for treatment.