SOOK: A secondary school student drowned after reportedly becoming trapped beneath a pile of tree branches while spear-fishing in the Sook River near Kampung Delayan, Wednesday evening.
Keningau District Police Chief Supt Yampil Anak Garai confirmed the incident, identifying the victim as Shazwi Azwar Iskandar Sharil, 18, from Kampung Malima. He was pronounced dead at the scene by a medical officer from the Sook Health Clinic.
According to initial investigations, the victim had gone to the river around 4.30pm with his younger cousin to fish using a spear.
“While they were spear-fishing, the cousin noticed that the victim failed to resurface and suspected he had drowned,” said Yampil.
The cousin immediately returned home to inform his older brother and seek help. The victim’s father, along with relatives and friends, rushed to the scene to search for him.
“The victim was later found trapped under a pile of tree branches in the river,” Yampil added.
Sook Fire and Rescue Station Chief PBK II Faisal Ahmad said they received a distress call at 8.41pm. A team was dispatched and arrived at the location, 12km away, within minutes.
“By the time our team arrived, members of the public had already pulled the victim from the water,” he said.
The body was later handed over to the police for further action.
