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A stranger rescued a 3-month-old baby after sudden flooding struck a home in Taiping, Perak
When flash floods hit Taman Larah Damai, Taiping, the infant and his mother were trapped in their home as water levels rose rapidly following heavy rain on Thursday afternoon, 23 October.
This photo of the unnamed man carrying the baby he rescued went viral on social media.
Image via Harian MetroAccording to Berita Harian, the baby's father, Mohamad Syammir Muzammir Azhar, 22, only saw the messages from his wife, informing him of the situation, when he got off work.
By the time he arrived home at around 7.30pm, Syammir saw that the water level had risen even higher, while his wife, Nur Fatin Nafasha Arisam, 20, and baby, Mohamad Fareez Anaqi, were trapped inside.
According to Syammir, his wife told him that the water level quickly rose from knee- to chest-level. He tried to cross to his family, but was unable to as the current was too strong.
Syammir said he is deeply grateful to the stranger who braved the floodwaters and rescued his family
"I didn't get the chance to know and thank him," said Syammir to Berita Harian, adding that the man was able to wade through the floodwaters' strong current as he had a strong body.
He said residents were fortunate that members of the community came forward to help those trapped in nearby houses.
Mohamad Syammir Muzammir Azhar, the baby's father.
Image via Berita Harian"They held onto ropes tied to poles, and used buoys and basins to make their way to safety," Syammir said.
By 12pm the next day, 24 October, a total of 2,200 flood victims from 756 families remained at 23 temporary relief centres (PPS) across Perak, covering the districts of Manjung and Larut, Matang, and Selama.
Flood victims from Taman Larah Damai were relocated to the Dewan Orang Ramai Kampung Changkat Larah PPS in Kamunting.
