KOTA KINABALU: A technician died not long after falling into the fuel tank of a ship at an offshore platform off Sabah’s northern Kota Belud district, some 100km from here.
The 51-year-old man was airlifted via helicopter for further treatment to the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) here following the 2pm incident on Monday (May 6).
Acting Kota Belud OCPD Asst Supt Tajuddin Padis said the victim landed at KKIA at 9.40pm.
“But medical officers confirmed the man had died,” he said, when contacted on Tuesday (May 7).
According to the initial probe, he said, the man was earlier instructed to measure the fuel level in the ship’s tank.
He added the man was then said to have fallen into the 13.5m-deep tank as it was not covered.
“Another person saw the incident and immediately informed the ship captain, with a search and rescue subsequently mounted.
“The victim was later found with a suspected fractured arm and still conscious,” said ASP Tajuddin.
After the victim’s condition worsened, he said, the crew onboard the ship decided to radio for a helicopter in order to send the man for treatment.
He said the incident has been classified as Sudden Death at the moment, adding that further investigations were being carried out.
The body has been sent to the forensics unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital here for an autopsy.
Source Agencies
