Teen crushed by falling tree

A teenager was crushed to death by a falling coconut tree in Pendang, a town in Kedah, as storms also uprooted more than 10 trees in the capital Alor Setar and Sik.

Ahmad Siddiq Ilyas Abu Hassan, 17, was riding pillion on a motorcycle ridden by his brother, Mohd Izmer, 20, when the incident happened at about noon on Friday.

Mr Mohd Izmer said the brothers were on their way home from a fishing trip at a canal when it started raining heavily.

As they neared Jalan Air Putih, "a coconut tree fell and hit my brother on his head and shoulders, which led him to become unconscious with a lot of blood oozing out of his ear", he told Malay Mail Online.

Mr Ahmad was pinned under the tree. Nearby villagers heard Mr Mohd Izmer's shouts for help and ran to his aid, reported The Star.

Mr Ahmad was found dead while his brother escaped unhurt.

"The night before the sad incident, my brother was playing a prank on me when he pretended to be dead.

"It never crossed my mind that he would leave us forever," said Mr Mohd Izmer, as tears flowed down his cheeks.

He said Mr Ahmad was the youngest of six siblings and had stopped schooling recently.

Hari Raya

"He was excited when my sister bought him a purple baju Melayu from Malacca for Hari Raya," said Mr Mohd Izmer.

Kedah Fire and Rescue Department public relations officer Nur Hafizah Mohammad Lukman said they received reports of six cars and a van being crushed by falling trees.

"The strong winds also left a trail of destruction in Jalan Kuala Kedah, Lebuhraya Sultan Abdul Halim, Jalan Sultan Badlishah, Jalan Seberang Perak and Jalan Datuk Kumbar," she said.

This article was first published on July 14, 2015.
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