Pontian: An elderly man is feared drowned after falling into the sea while cleaning a boat propeller at a fishermen's jetty in Jalan Tambak-Pontian Kecil here today.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Pontian Baru Fire and Rescue Station senior operations commander, Assistant Senior Fire Superintendent Mahadir Mamat, stated that they received an emergency call regarding the incident at 12.02 pm. Responding to the call, they dispatched one Fire Rescue Tender, one aluminium boat, and two four-wheel drives to the scene.

A total of 17 personnel, including members from the Pontian Baru Fire and Rescue Station and the water rescue unit (PPDA) from Kluang Fire and Rescue Station, were deployed to the location, which is approximately five kilometres away. The victim, identified as a 65-year-old local man, is believed to have drowned while cleaning the boat propeller, Mahadir mentioned in a statement today.

The search and rescue operation for the victim is ongoing with the assistance of PPDA. However, in a separate statement, Senior Operations Commander Mahadir Mamat later confirmed that the body of the 65-year-old victim was found at 3:25 pm today. The victim's body was discovered floating about 10 meters from the jetty and was retrieved by the fire department, with the help of a friend of the victim. The body has since been handed over to the police for further action.