Fighting couple fall from Penang Bridge, rescued by passing fishermen

GEORGE TOWN: A fight between a man and his girlfriend ended with both falling from the Penang Bridge on Monday (Jan 15) night.

A Penang Fire & Rescue Department spokesman said the department received a call from the public informing them about the incident at 7.49pm.

“We believed that the couple were quarrelling with each other before both of them fell from the bridge at KM2.8 mainland bound,” the spokesman said in a statement on Monday, adding that the couple stopped at a rest area of the bridge and began fighting.

However, when both of them fell into the sea, a passer-by was quick to come to the rescue. At the same time, several fishing boats were in the vicinity of where the incident occurred, according to the spokesman.

He said both victims were rescued by members of the public who jumped in to the water to save them, lifting them into a fisherman’s boat, and taken the victims to the Batu Uban Jetty. The victims were then handed over to the police for further action.

The operation ended at about 8.35pm.

Those suffering from problems can reach out to: Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service (03-2935 9935 or 014-322 3392); Talian Kasih (15999 or WhatsApp 019-261 5999); Jakim’s Family, Social and Community care centre (WhatsApp 0111-959 8214); and Befrienders Kuala Lumpur (03-7627 2929 or www.befrienders.org.my/centre-in-malaysia for a full list of numbers and operating hours).