Just yesterday (15th July), news of a triathlete from Penang named Tharm Wai Weng, who participated in the PD International Challenge, drowned during the swimming portion of the triathlon. Attempts to resuscitate the 39-year-old were not successful and he was later pronounced dead at the Port Dickson Hospital.
While authorities managed to find one athlete, another 42-year-old participant from Hong Kong reportedly went missing when he failed to complete the swimming event.
Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman stated to the press that a committee will be set up to probe into Tharm’s death, according to The Star.
Now, in an update from the New Straits Times, 42-year-old Jeffrey Yuen Chi Yuen has finally been found by authorities this morning at 7.57am today (16th July).
According to the update, Jeffrey unfortunately drowned and was found off Pulau Karang, one nautical mile (approx. 1,800 metres) from Pantai Batu.
#ALERT: Yuen Chi Yuen, a 42-year-old from Hong Kong who went missing while participating in the Port Dickson International Triathlon 2018, was found drowned off Pulau Karang, about one nautical mile from Pantai Batu 5, at 7.57am today. pic.twitter.com/cYYEidFOaz
— New Straits Times (@NST_Online) July 16, 2018
Authorities began the search for Jeffrey when his wife failed to find him at the beach, in their hotel room, and in the hotel’s dining area.
When the Fire and Rescue Department began their search, a bicycle he was meant to use was found untouched with a full water bottle attached to it, implying that he had still not made it out of the water to continue the triathlon.
Our condolences go out to the families of the athletes, and hope the authorities do their best to probe into their deaths to ensure that nothing like this ever recurs.
Also read: One Drowned While Another is Missing at the PD International Challenge Event