GEORGETOWN: A soldier risked his life to save two people who fell from the Penang Bridge on Monday. It was akin to a scene from an action film and his courage was lauded by many people nationwide.
Corporal Mazlan Abdul Rahman of the Malaysian army said he acted spontaneously after witnessing the victims floating in the water.
In an interview with Harian Metro, he recounted that he just finished work at Kem Sungai Ara and intended to ride his motorcycle home to Sungai Petani, Kedah.
He said he saw a crowd gathering on the side of the road midway on the Penang Bridge, and thought there was a traffic accident.
"Perhaps Allah moved my heart to jump in because the situation (at the time) was dark with strong sea currents and there were many jellyfish."
Mazlan managed to rescue a man, who suffered head injury and a woman in the ordeal. He pulled both of them so they could cling to the wall of a nearby pillar at the bridge.
"I could not lift the victims onto the wall because it was too high.
"So the three of us clung to the wall for almost 20 minutes and waited for assistance from the nearest fishing boat," he explained.
After being rescued, they were taken to the Penang Hospital for treatment before being allowed to return home at 5am, yesterday.
Mazlan only sustained injuries to his leg and is dealing with pain in his back due to being stung by jellyfish.
The father of two, who has served in the army for 14 years said he once rescued his brother from drowning.
He is currently stationed at the Second Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment (2RMR), serving as a physical education and sports trainer.
"I have undergone rescue training and dealt with similar situations through exercises at a height of 10m.
"Perhaps that's why I had the courage to apply those methods during the incident."
