KOTA KINABALU: After spending over 60 hours on the rooftop of his apartment in the east coast Sandakan district, a man believed to be mentally ill has finally been rescued on Thursday (Feb 15).
Since Monday night (Feb 12), firefighters and policemen had been working to convince the 39-year-old man to come down from the top of the three-storey Block D at the Flat Sejati Apartment.
Sandakan Fire and Rescue station chief Severinus Sainkui said that at 1.24pm on Thursday (Feb 15), they were able to restrain the man and bring him safely to the ground.
A group of five people, including policemen and firefighters, took advantage of the moment when the man was lying on his back and appeared to be about to fall asleep to apprehend him, he said.
“We saw the opportunity and seized it, but the man resisted,” he said.
According to Sainkui, the man was holding a sharp iron object and a stick, making the rescue operation more delicate. “We had to prioritize safety, so we took away the items he was holding,” he added.
He said the man continued to act aggressively, but they managed to subdue him, bind his hands, and lower him to the ground. He was then handed over to Health Ministry personnel before being taken to the hospital in an ambulance. The operation was concluded at 2.08pm after assessing that there were no other risks at the site, he added.
For those suffering from mental health issues or contemplating suicide, they can reach out to several helplines such as the Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service, Talian Kasih, Jakim’s Family, Social and Community care centre, and Befrienders Kuala Lumpur.
