A Malaysian worker died after her headscarf became entangled in the roller of a floodgate she was operating in Sabak Bernam, Selangor.

Selaton Nuri, a worker with Malaysia's Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID), was at the floodgate near Grand Sabak Hotel on Aug 15 to close it following a high tide when the accident happened, reported The Star on Saturday (August 15).

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Ashrul Riezal Asbar said the department received a distress call at 3.35pm, reported The Sun.

A team of five firefighters from the Sabak Bernam Fire and Rescue Station was dispatched to the scene.

"Upon arrival at the Grand Sabak Hotel floodgate, the operation commander reported that the woman, a Drainage and Irrigation Department worker, was found lying on the floodgate. Initial investigations found that the victim's headscarf had become entangled in the gate roller," he said in a statement, reported the New Straits Times (NST).

Selaton, 56, was pronounced dead by Health Ministry personnel.

The case has been classified as sudden death.

Her body was taken to Hospital Tengku Ampuan Jemaah Sabak Bernam for a post-mortem, reported NST.

'Saw that my wife was already gone'

Selaton's husband, Basar Maslan, 63, a security guard at the Sabak Bernam District Education Office, was asleep at home when his son-in-law called and asked him to check on her.

He had been working night shifts for two consecutive days and had not managed to see his wife before her death.

"Still half-asleep and with numb legs, I forced myself to drive to the scene. Upon arriving, I went up to the gate and saw that my wife was already gone. There was nothing I could do except wait for the police and ambulance to arrive," he told NST.

According to Basar, the couple have six children, aged between 23 and 36. 

He said he had spoken to his wife that morning after returning home from work.

"Yesterday morning, when I returned from work, I called and asked where she was. She said she was having a drink with our child, and mentioned plans to go to the market, visit someone, and finally head to the floodgate. After that, I tried calling her several times but failed," NST quoted him as saying.

Basar said Selaton had worked as a gatekeeper for 21 years.

He described her as a generous woman who enjoyed helping others and could not bear to see people in difficulty.

"She was a good, generous person who loved to help others. She could not stand seeing people in difficulty," he said.

Selaton had also hoped to perform the haj and had been waiting for her turn to make the pilgrimage.

She was laid to rest following a post-mortem, according to NST. Investigations have been reportedly handed over to the police.

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helmy.saat@asiaone.com