63-yr-old Kuala Dipang bridge tragedy hero gets award

KUALA LUMPUR: The 63 year-old security guard who rescued nine schoolchildren in the Kuala Dipang bridge tragedy in October last year has been awarded for his bravery.
Ismail Ahmad, a security guard at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kuala Dipang, Perak, said he was touched by the recognition given for saving the lives of the schoolchildren.
"The tragedy is still fresh in my mind. It is the scariest experience in my 11 years as a security guard at the school," he told reporters after receiving the F&N Out-Do Yourself Award here Monday.



Ismail said the bridge tragedy on Oct 26 at Kuala Dipang would remain in his memory forever although four months had passed.
"I can hear the children screaming for help every time I cross the bridge," he said.
Three schoolchildren were killed after a suspension bridge collapsed during a 1Malaysia camping programme involving 298 pupils from 60 primary schools from Kampar, Tronoh and Batu Gajah.
Also awarded were teachers Ikha Nadia Md Idris, Mohd Sharif Ibrahim and Mohd Shah Rizal Zainudin and security guard Rusli Mohamad.
The other recipients were neurofibromatosis (NF) patient Yvonne Foong who managed to become a child psychologist despite being deaf and Berine Sua Linggi, 12, of Sarawak who saved two siblings from drowning in Sungai Belaga. - Bernama
from:: The Star