KOTA KINABALU: An elderly woman in Kinabatangan district who did not return after going out to fish has been found dead, entangled in a fishing net.

       Ria Tagunggu, 75, was said to have left her house in Kg Sinar Jaya for net fishing on Saturday (Feb 3), and failed to return home, said Kinabatangan Fire Station Chief Nurul Azlan Shah Jamalludin on Sunday (Feb 4).

       He said her body was later found stuck in some fishing nets at around 12.30pm on Sunday.

       “We received a call to help get a body stuck in nets out of the river. It is unclear what happened but there are no initial signs of wounds or animal attacks on the victim,” he said when contacted.

       Nurul said the body was retrieved from the net and handed it over to the police for further action.

       Operations ceased at 1.38pm.

       Meanwhile, in Lahad Datu, a teenager drowned during a swimming trip with friends at the Sepagaya waterfall on Sunday.

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       The victim, Mohd Syaiful Romeo, 18, drowned around 10.30am, said Lahad Datu Fire Station chief Sumsoa Rashid when contacted.

       “A search operation was mounted for the boy involving agencies such as the police, Forestry Department and Health Ministry and his body was finally found at around 1pm,” he said.

       Sumsoa said the body was retrieved from the waterfall area and handed over to the cops for further action.

       He advised parents to be watchful of their children’s activities and also reminded the public to temporarily stop all water-related outings, including fishing during this rainy season.

       He said two other children drowned during swimming outings at Kg Tabanak on Feb 2, also in Lahad Datu and this could have been averted if everyone was a little more careful and alert.