IPOH: A 54-year-old local man has been found dead after a tiger attack in Gerik.
Perak police chief Comm Datuk Azizi Mat Aris said the incident occurred before dawn on Tuesday (Oct 15) near a “kongsi” (shared residence) off the Gerik-Jeli stretch at KM79.2 of the East-West Highway.
He said the Gerik District Control Centre was informed that the man, an operator of heavy machinery, was attacked by a tiger while on his way to the toilet of the Bagan Balak shared residence.
“The incident was witnessed by the victim’s wife, a Thai national who works as a cook.
“The incident is believed to have occurred between 5am and 6am.
“The victim’s wife heard roars, and when she opened the door, she saw a tiger dragging the victim towards some bushes,” he said in a statement.
Comm Azizi said a team comprising the Bersia police station chief and three personnel, Gerik district headquarters CID personnel, and 10 Perak Wildlife and National Parks Department personnel went to the location at about 10.30am for a search and rescue operation.
He said the victim’s body was found about 100m from the house at around noon.
The man had severe leg and neck injuries, Comm Azizi added.
The case has been classified as sudden death.
“The body of the victim was sent to Hospital Gerik’s forensic unit for post-mortem,” he added.
