The fishmonger who is said to have suddenly stopped the vehicle before jumping off the Polytechnic Bridge at Kota Kinabalu, yesterday actually slipped while fishing.

At 8.35am, the 38 -year -old man was said to be with his uncle to the location to go fishing. While trying to take a fishing position on the long iron rod of the bridge, the victim slipped and fell into the river.

Kota Kinabalu District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Mohd Zaidi Abdullah, said the victim was later rescued by his uncle who rushed down the bridge to help.

He said the misunderstanding arose after a man who happened to pass by the road saw the incident.

"The man involved, known as 'Bob', immediately informed the police team at the roadblock near Kampus Intan. A police team rushed to the location and contacted the paramedics to help," he said when contacted today.

The investigation found that the incident was an accident and there were no criminal elements including attempted suicide.

He added that the victim who was treated as an outpatient at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (HQE) also did not suffer from a serious condition and there were only torn marks on the tissues in the thighs and calves.

Since yesterday, a recording of the incident was spread on social media which claimed that the man involved jumped into the river and was believed to be trying to commit suicide. The 23-second recording got a lot of attention and was shared via WhatsApp, causing various reactions from netizens.

"People are asked not to spread anything untrue because it will bring disturbance to the community," Assistant Commissioner Mohd Zaidi Abdullah said.