A family outing at Pantai Sura Tengah turned tragic when a woman drowned and her brother went missing after being swept away by strong currents.
DUNGUN: Nor Baizura Shafie was excited for a family picnic at Pantai Sura Tengah during her holiday.
The 39-year-old, who had returned to her family home in Kampung Balai Besar from Johor Bahru on Dec 26, suggested the beach outing with about 15 relatives.
Her sister, Nur Mashitah, said the group, including three children aged seven to 10, entered the water around 7.30 am after observing calm waves.
The situation turned dangerous when Nor Baizura was suddenly pulled away by a strong current.
“I only realised my sister was drowning when I saw her hands waving as she was being swept away,” Nur Mashitah told reporters at Dungun Hospital.
She immediately screamed for their brother, Mohd Fazir, to help.
Mohd Fazir, 37, swam out and managed to grab his sister’s hand.
They were then separated by the waves and both disappeared beneath the surface before being carried away by the currents.
A family member contacted the police for assistance.
Rescuers later found Nor Baizura’s body approximately 200 metres from where she first encountered difficulty.
The search for Mohd Fazir continued into the late evening without success.
Nor Baizura’s funeral is scheduled to take place after an autopsy at Dungun Hospital is completed.
