KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 — A 74-year-old fisherman was found dead along the shoreline in Padang Temu yesterday after a security guard spotted an unmanned fishing boat nearby.

Melaka Tengah district police chief Assistant Commissioner Halim Abas said police were alerted to the discovery through a MERS 999 call at about 11.13am.

The victim, identified as Mohammad Chalip, was found lying face down near the shoreline opposite 8 Residence along Jalan Residen, Taman Padang Temu.

“Investigations found that the victim was a fisherman from the Sungai Duyong jetty and was known among fishermen in the area,” Halim said in a statement.

According to a security guard at 8 Residence, an unmanned fishing boat was spotted during a patrol at about 10.30am.

The guard continued his rounds before finding Mohammad lying face down along the shoreline.

Halim said the victim’s son told police that his father had left home at about 7am to head to the jetty for his usual routine of casting fishing nets at sea.

Police were also informed that Mohammad had high blood pressure.

The case has been classified as a sudden death.

Halim said the body had been claimed by the victim’s family for burial.