A 21-year-old student at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) has passed away reportedly due to heat-related illnesses while participating in the varsity’s Komander Kesatria Endurance Challenge (KKEC) event last Friday (Sept 4).
For the uninitiated, KKEC is an event held each year to test students on their physical strength, tactical skills, agility and teamwork.
The victim was identified as Fadhlan Fakhry Solana Mohd Fellimal, who was pronounced dead at Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Hospital (Hoshas) in Temerloh on Saturday (Sept 5).
8 others hospitalised
According to Maran district police chief Superintendent Wong Kim Wai, he said two other students were treated at Hoshas, while seven were treated at Jengka Hospital.
He added initial checks found that the students were experiencing heat-related illnesses, including oxygen deficiency, while competing in the endurance event.
Further updates are expected to be given after police receive Fadhlan’s post-mortem report.
Meanwhile, UiTM Pahang expressed condolences over the tragedy and said it was giving its support to Fadhlan’s family by ensuring arrangements related to the victim’s remains, documentation, transportation and emotional support are carried out smoothly.
It added that KKEC was scheduled from Sept 2 to 8 at its Pahang branch campus in Jengka and was conducted in line with “strict health and safety standard operating procedures”, where participants were required to undergo health screenings beforehand, as well as periodic health checks before each event.
In fact, several participants had previously been asked to withdraw after failing the final screening.
UiTM takes this incident seriously and will continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure the welfare of all parties involved,” it said in a statement.
Following the tragedy, UiTM has called off KKEC’s outdoor activities scheduled for yesterday (Sept 6).
‘He was a healthy person’
Fadhlan’s passing has left his family shocked, with his father, Mohamad Fellimal Mohd Sulanah, describing him as an avid athlete who had no prior health issues and was thoroughly prepared for KKEC.
“He had taken part in two previous editions of the competition and won awards with his team.
“We also took many photographs as keepsakes, never imagining those would be our last memories with him,” he told The Star, adding that their last meeting at a commissioning ceremony in Shah Alam on Aug 29.
Mohamad Fellimal said his son was supposed to pursue his degree after obtaining his diploma, only for his dream to be cut short.
Fadhlan’s remains were laid to rest at the Elmina Muslim Cemetery in Denai Alam.
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