15-year-old girl drowns while swimming at beach in Tuaran

15-year-old girl drowns while swimming at Tanjung Badak Beach in Tuaran, while another teenager is rescued and taken to hospital.

KOTA KINABALU: A 15-year-old girl drowned while her friend, also 15, was rescued after they were swept away while swimming at Tanjung Badak Beach in Tuaran this afternoon.

The Sabah Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Operations Centre said that it received an emergency call regarding the incident at 3.59 pm.

In a statement, it said the two girls had been picnicking and swimming at the beach before they were reported missing at sea.

A search and rescue operation was then launched using the Water Surface Searching method around the area where the victims were last seen.

The first victim was rescued and given initial treatment at the scene before being taken to hospital for further treatment in an Emergency Medical Rescue Services vehicle, the statement said.

“The second victim was found at 5.08 pm. However, she was pronounced dead at the scene by Health Ministry personnel,” the statement said.