A young man working on a plantation in the Sandakan district of Sabah, located on the east coast of Malaysia, found himself in a serious accident when he was impaled on an oil palm loading spike while collecting oil palm fruit bunches on Wednesday, February 21st.
He was quickly rushed to the Duchess of Kent Hospital to receive medical attention.
It is believed that the accident occurred at around 10am, and the Sandakan Fire and Rescue Department was informed of the situation at 10:35am that same day.
Upon arrival, a team from the Fire and Rescue Department worked to cut away most of the spike so that hospital staff could safely remove it and treat the victim. The operation concluded at 11:07am.
According to Severinus Nidzam Sainkui, the chief of the Sandakan Fire and Rescue Department, loading spikes are typically made of steel and are approximately 1m in length. They are used to skewer and lift bunches of fresh oil palm fruit for loading onto transports.
The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by plantation workers and the importance of safety precautions in such environments.
