Tears at Sibu Airport as Joey Ling’s remains return home after Kedah kayaking tragedy

SIBU (April 7): The atmosphere at Sibu Airport was heavy with grief this evening as the remains of drowning victim Joey Ling arrived, greeted by tearful family members and officials.

AirAsia flight AK5878, carrying Joey’s remains, touched down around 6pm.

Officers from the Education Department stood solemnly alongside the bereaved family at the arrival hall to pay their respects.

Joey’s remains were then transferred to MASkargo before being taken to Bukit Lima Funeral Parlour, where wake and funeral arrangements will be held.

Among those present at MASkargo was Sibu District Education Officer Ahli Chikba, who offered condolences and presented a donation to the grieving parents.

“On behalf of the Sibu District Education Office and Sarawak Education Department, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and pray that all arrangements will go smoothly,” he said when met by reporters.

Joey, 21, a former student of SMK Tung Hua in Sibu, was one of two Sarawakian trainee teachers from the Institut Pendidikan Guru (IPG) Perlis campus whose lives were tragically cut short during a kayaking activity at Pantai Merdeka in Kedah last Saturday.

The other victim, Christopher Ling, 21, a former student of SMK Sungai Tapang in Kuching, shared the same tragic fate, leaving both families and the Sarawakian community in deep mourning.