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JOHOR BARU – A fun outing for six young boys at Sg Masai, near Taman Masai Utama here yesterday turned tragic after two of them drowned.
Johor Zone 1 Fire and Rescue Department assistant superintendent Hamdan Ismail said the body of Sharif Mohd Sharizan Sabri, 11, was recovered at 9.18pm while the body of Mohd Ahlan Kiram, 14, was found at 10.32pm.
He said 21 firefighters, including nine members of the department’s dive team, assisted by the Royal Malaysian Police and the Civil Defence Force, were mobilised to the scene of the incident after they received a distress call at 6.15pm.
“The first victim (Sharif) was found not far away from the second victim (Ahlan), around two metres away at the depth of five metres,” he told reporters at a media conference.
According to initial information, Sharif was believed to have fallen while trying to retrieve his slipper that had slipped into the river.
“Ahlan was believed to have tried to help Sharif who was drowning, but he failed and that resulted in both of them drowning,” he added.
Hamdan said the remains of both boys were brought to Sultan Ismail Hospital by police for further action.
Meanwhile, their friend, Mohd Azmil Jamaludin, 13, said he nearly became a victim himself but was rescued by others.
He said he and the rest of their friends ran to seek help when both of the victims disappeared from view.
“My friend yanked on my leg and I was saved. We just played together by the river today because we all live in the same flat.
“I didn’t think it would turn out like this,” he added. – Bernama, January 17, 2022
