UiTM student dies, 8 hospitalised after endurance challenge

In a tragic incident at the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Jengka campus in Maran, Pahang, a 21-year-old UiTM student named Fadhlan Fakhry Solana Fellimal has passed away, while eight others were hospitalized due to heat-related symptoms during an endurance challenge. The fatal event occurred on Thursday at Hospital Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah in Temerloh, as reported by the Malay daily Berita Harian.

Wong Kim Wai, the Maran police chief, confirmed that Fadhlan Fakhry and another participant received treatment at the same hospital, while the remaining seven were treated at Jengka Hospital. The preliminary investigation indicated that the students, including Fadhlan, experienced heat-related issues such as inadequate oxygen supply during the endurance programme.

Wong stated that a comprehensive report would be released once the post-mortem examination results are available.

The UiTM branch in Pahang expressed its commitment to providing full support to Fadhlan Fakhry's family. The university announced that the Komander Kesatria Endurance Challenge, an annual event involving participants from various UiTM campuses, was scheduled to take place from September 2 to 8 at the Jengka campus. They also announced the cancellation of all outdoor activities for the day.

The organizers emphasized that the programme had adhered to stringent health and safety protocols. Prior to the event, participants were required to undergo health screenings and additional health checks before each activity. A statement from the university revealed that several participants had been asked to withdraw after failing the final screening.