“Mohd Diya Che Jusoh, the firefighter who was involved in the drowning incident at Sungai Putat, Melaka, passed away at 3.11am today at Melaka Hospital’s emergency and trauma department,” Melaka fire and rescue department director Abu Bakar Katain said in a statement.

“Melaka’s fire and rescue department wish to express their condolences and we are deeply saddened by the incident.”

Diya, 46, was believed to have been securing a line in a flooded area to help villagers evacuate from their homes when he fell into the chest-high floodwaters and lost consciousness.

A fellow firefighter who was nearby witnessed the incident and joined others in rescuing Diya. He was given cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the scene before being sent to the hospital.

Bakar previously said Diya was part of a rescue team from the Kubu Melaka Tengah station which rushed to Kampung Sungai Putat to rescue 14 flood victims trapped in their homes.

Bernama yesterday reported that 20 locations in three districts in Melaka – Melaka Tengah, Alor Gajah and Jasin – were hit by flash floods following heavy downpour in the state.