RESCUERS spent almost 12 hours trying to extricate the driver of a lorry that had plunged into a ditch in Stulang, Johor Baru, early yesterday morning.

Deputy fire chief Mohd Suhaimi Jamal said the body of the driver, Rosnani Siam, 47, was freed at 8.11pm yesterday night.

“The victim was found covered in sand and was pronounced dead by medical officers,” he said.

He said the Fire and Rescue Department received distress call at 8.51am yesterday morning.

It is believed that find the lorry, which was laden with sand, had skidded and plunged into a ditch.

“We faced a difficult time as the front of the lorry was 12 feet (3m) deep in the water-filled ditch,” Suhaimi said.

“We had to use a 350-ton crane to lift the lorry.”

Suhaimi said 39 workers, two FRT engines, an emergency medical rescue services unit, three Rapid Intervention Motorcycle teams and a four-wheel drive were involved in the operation. – Bernama, December 25, 2022.