KINABATANGAN, Oct. 3 -- A mother and son were swept away and killed in a flash flood at Kampung Bangkulut, Tongod, yesterday night.

Kinabatangan fire station chief Hairi Otuh said a distress call was received at 9.46pm, and five personnel rushed to the village, located about 169km from the station.

He said the 79-year-old woman and her seven-year-old son were attempting to cross a flooded road to reach higher ground when they were swept away by the sudden surge of water.

The Indonesian woman was found at 1.20am on Friday, about 250 metres from where she was last seen, while the Malaysian boy was discovered at 4.02am, some 200 metres downstream.

"The boy slipped from his mother's grip, while the elderly woman lost her balance while cro...