Victoria Bridge Tragedy: Family Suffers Second Loss In Less Than A Year

KLUANG, Sept 2 (Bernama) -- Less than a year after mourning the loss of their eldest child, a family here is once again grieving after their youngest son died following a fall from Victoria Bridge in Enggor, Kuala Kangsar, Perak, on Monday.

The victim’s father, who wished to be known only as Abd Halim, 42, said his eldest daughter was only 16 when she died last year, following a four-month battle with an illness doctors were unable to diagnose.

He said the family was still coping with the loss of their eldest daughter when tragedy struck again with the death of Abdul Rafee, three.

“Just last year, we lost our eldest child. She was sick and bedridden for about four months before she passed away, but the doctors couldn’t find out what illness she was suffering from.

“We are still grieving the loss of our eldest child, and now we have lost our youngest son too,” he said when met by Bernama at his home here today.

Abd Halim said he had decided to take his family to Perak during the National Day holiday as they had not gone on a holiday together for more than a year.

He said Abdul Rafee was thrilled when he found out that they were going on a holiday.

“He was such a cheerful boy. He was always making us laugh and bringing happiness to our family. We will always cherish those moments with him.

“We will also always remember how much he loved chicken rice. Usually, he would only eat rice with soup, but a few days before the incident, he asked for chicken,” he said.

Recalling the incident, Abd Halim said he first checked the condition of the Victoria Bridge before taking Abdul Rafee for a walk along the more than 125-year-old structure.

However, Abd Halim said everything happened in an instant as they tried to make way for several people taking photographs on the bridge. Abdul Rafee then stepped on a rotten piece of wood, causing his hand to slip from his father’s grasp before he fell.

Abd Halim hoped the public would not be quick to blame him and his wife, saying they had done their best to care for and ensure the safety of their children.

He also hoped the authorities would conduct regular inspections and maintenance at tourist attractions, particularly those involving old structures, to prevent similar incidents from recurring.

Abdul Rafee was laid to rest at the Kampung Baru Muslim Cemetery here at 1 am yesterday.

On Monday, the victim was reported to have died after he was believed to have fallen about five metres from the bridge at around 6.30 pm while visiting the site with his father.

The boy was believed to have been walking while holding his father's hand before falling through an opening in the bridge. Following the incident, the Kuala Kangsar Municipal Council (MPKK) immediately closed public access to the iron structure of the Victoria Bridge as a safety measure.

--BERNAMA