TAWAU: A recreational swimming trip turned tragic when a 16-year-old local drowned at Balung River Eco Resort, Batu 24, Jalan Apas, on Wednesday.
Tawau District Police Chief ACP Jasmin Hussin said the boy, addressed at Taman Apas Permai Batu 14, Jalan Apas, was found trapped between rocks at the river bottom around 5.50pm.
The incident was reported around 4pm by the victim’s 23-year-old brother, who learnt of the drowning from a teacher present at the scene.
The brother immediately rushed to the location and joined search and rescue (SAR) efforts upon arrival at 4.25pm.
A Fire and Rescue team located the body during the SAR operation, not far from where he was last seen alive in the river.
The body was sent to the Tawau Hospital at 7pm via a police vehicle, with the post-mortem examination conducted three hours later.
Police have classified the case as sudden death under the investigation of SI Julpin Jalaludin.
Authorities conducted photographic documentation, sketched the scene and recorded witness statements as part of the investigation process.
