Search and rescue teams have continued to comb the forested areas around Gopeng, Perak, for any traces of a missing ultra-marathon runner who did not make it to the finish-line as expected last weekend at the Gopeng ULTRA 20 km run.
Day four into the operation, and the only trace of 29-year-old Mohammad Ashraff Hassan, from Muar, Johor, is his water bottle that teams found on Sunday.
One-hundred and seventy individuals have volunteered their time to look for the runner, with Malaysia’s army reportedly joining the group just a few hours ago. Perak’s Youth and Sports committee chairman, Howard Lee Chuan, has added that they have asked for support from the police canine unit, General Operations Force, and any available Rela members.
Anyone familiar with the terrain, trekkers, hikers and those with experience in search and rescue have also been asked to join the group seeking to bring Ashraff home safely.
While the search has been widened to Sungai Kampar, officials are unsure if the runner became injured during the run, or if foul play was involved.
Official photos from the event have shown that he made it as far as the sixth check, with a social media post alleging that some participants saw him at Bukit Batu Putih, along the trail.
Two leads have since proved unfruitful, and the search party will continue to look in and around the areas he was seen last.
Organizers Gopeng ULTRA have committed to bringing Ashraff home, and have thanked supporters.
