A DRAMATIC rescue unfolded in Tasek Gelugor, in Penang today when a 26-year-old man became trapped atop a rambutan tree, approximately six metres high, while attempting to cut branches near Masjid Pokok Machang.
According to John Sagun Francis, Deputy Director of the State Fire and Rescue Operations Division, firefighters from the Tasek Gelugor Fire and Rescue Station were dispatched to the scene shortly after receiving an emergency call at 12.36 pm.
“Firefighters then carried out a rescue operation to bring the victim down using a ladder,” he told reporters.
The man was successfully lowered to the ground, but was found to have sustained injuries to his spine. He was promptly handed over to the Ministry of Health for further medical attention.
The rescue operation concluded at 2.30 pm.
Francis confirmed that the victim’s condition was being monitored, and commended the swift response by the emergency personnel involved in the rescue. - November 23, 2025