PENDANG: What a woman thought was a crocodile floating in a river at a recreation park near here turned out to be a decomposing body.
"There were people pointing at the river and at first, I thought there was a crocodile in the water," said 36-year-old Nor Intan Suraini Mohd Yatim, who lives in Kampung Titi Dua Lapis.
Nor Intan said the body was discovered by several people who were exercising at the park near Sungai Kolam Lembaga Kemajuan Pertanian Muda at 7.30am today (Dec 9).
She said she and her husband were on their way to her brother-in-law's home when they saw a group of people gathering near the river.
"My husband stopped the car and we went closer to find out what was happening. The body was still clothed and the police came soon afterwards," she told the NSTP when contacted.
Nor Intan, who works as a clerk at an architecture firm in Alor Star said the area where the body was found was a popular fishing spot.
It was learnt that personnel from the Pendang Civil Defence Force retrieved the body from the river before police sent it to the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital for post-mortem.
Pendang district police chief Deputy Superintendent Arriz Sham Hamezah, when contacted today, confirmed the incident.
He said the victim was believed to be between 40 and 50 years old, and that the victim's identity had yet to be ascertained.
"We believe the victim fell into the river at least 24 hours before the body was found today.
"However, we need the autopsy report before we can determine the victim's identity as well as the cause of death."