Fire Dept's elite water rescue unit: Braving dangers to recover drowning victims

Sinar Daily

14-06-2025

KOTA BHARU - Diving into the pitch-black depths of a lake or river to search for drowning victims is a perilous mission fraught with hidden dangers.
Relying solely on the ropes that connect them to the surface, divers from the Water Rescue Unit (PPDA) - an elite unit in the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM) specialised in handling water-related incidents and emergencies - leave no room for error during their search and rescue operations.
In certain states, such as Kelantan and Sarawak, the team also contends with another danger - crocodiles that lurk beneath the murky river water.
Officially established on Jan 1, 2004, PPDA has teams stationed in every state to support search and rescue operations in rivers, lakes, mining pools, dams and flooded areas.
In Kelantan, where floods occur annually during the monsoon season, PPDA teams are stationed in three locations: Pengkalan Chepa (in Kota Bharu), Pasir Puteh and Tanah Merah.
STRONG CURRENTS, WHIRLPOOLS
Commenting on PPDA's operations in the state, JBPM Kelantan director Farhan Sufyan Borhan told Bernama their biggest challenge arises when victims go missing in rivers, most of which have strong currents.
"In swift-flowing rivers, the challenge is even greater because anything afloat can be swept tens of kilometres away from the original location, and if the current exceeds four knots, diving becomes nearly impossible,' he said.
Citing a recent incident in Kuala Krai, he said two Orang Asli men fell into a river and their bodies were only found after four days.
"One body was found about 25 km away and the other nearly 30 km,' he said, adding that usually, a body resurfaces within 48 hours but water temperature, depth and current speed can delay the process.
Rivers in Kelantan, he added, are also rocky and some areas contain whirlpools, further increasing the risk for rescuers.
"If diving is not possible due to certain conditions, the PPDA team will switch to a surfacing strategy, that is, wait and monitor locations where a victim's body is likely to appear.
"This monitoring work is far from easy. It demands patience, discipline and emotional strength as every passing moment carries a glimmer of hope,' he said.
He also said certain locations are known as crocodile zones but that does not mean operations cannot be carried out there.
"Usually, when crocodiles hear the sound of a boat engine, they move away. The sound serves as a signal for them to retreat to another area but we still can't take anything for granted,' he said.
According to him, caution is always a priority and any sign of danger, no matter how small, is taken into account before team members are allowed to dive.
"We will never let anyone enter the water if the risk is unpredictable. Strict procedures must be followed. Our team members' lives are not to be gambled with,' he said.
EMOTIONAL BURDEN
Beyond physical challenges, PPDA members often endure emotional strain, especially when faced with pleas like "Please bring my child home'.
"Every time they dive into the water, they don't know what they'll find. Sometimes the body has been in the river for days and all that's left are the feet, hands or scraps of clothing. Even if the body is decomposed, decayed or unrecognisable, the divers still bring the remains back to shore,' he said.
The stench of decomposing bodies, nauseating to most, has become an everyday reality for the team members, though the smell sometimes lingers on their clothing.
Sometimes the team's operations involve wading through polluted, blackened water full of trash, toxic waste or sewage. Bernama FILE PIX
"Sometimes their operations involve wading through polluted, blackened water full of trash, toxic waste or sewage. All of this is part and parcel of the team's work.
"What's more, their duties are not limited to finding drowning victims. They also assist other agencies, like the police, in locating evidence submerged underwater,' he added.
RISK OF DEATH
Despite being considered an elite team, PPDA members are not immune to deadly risks while on duty.
The tragedy that claimed six members of the PPDA on Oct 3, 2018, still haunts many of them and serves as a stark reminder of how close they are to death with every operation.
The six divers drowned during an operation at night in search of a teenager who fell into a disused mining pool in Puchong, Selangor. That incident remains the worst tragedy in PPDA's history since its establishment.
"Fire department divers are trained for all situations, including night operations and handling unexpected events. But sometimes, unforeseen issues arise and at that moment, it's not just technical skill but also mental strength that's needed,' Farhan Sufyan said.
He said although PPDA members are trained to dive in darkness, they generally avoid night dives unless absolutely necessary.
"We're not afraid of the darkness itself but of the hidden dangers such as sudden current shifts and floating debris that can't be seen. At night, even a small mistake can turn into a tragedy,' he said.
RIGOROUS TRAINING
To be a member of PPDA, firefighters must undergo specially designed basic training to ensure only the most qualified are chosen.
"Some of the tests they have to undergo include floating unaided for five minutes, jumping from a height of 10 metres and swimming nonstop for 600 metres.
"These tests are only to assess their basic eligibility. Only those who pass will proceed to a five-week intensive course at the Northern Zone Fire Academy in Tronoh, Perak,' he said, adding it is also important to remember that not everyone who passes the tests has the mental strength to bring back the remains of drowned victims.
Every year, PPDA members must undergo a re-evaluation to assess their competence and health levels.
"Diving requires both physical and mental endurance, so every member must be 100 percent fit,' he said. - BERNAMA