A weekend outing turned tragic when two friends drowned while swimming in Sungai Rayu, Matang, near Kuching yesterday.
One of the victims has been identified as 19-year-old Azli Abdul Kadir, while the identity of the second victim—believed to be in his late 20s—is still being verified.
According to the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department, a team of seven firefighters from the Petra Jaya station was dispatched to the scene after receiving a distress call at 3.55pm.
By the time rescuers arrived, both victims had already been located by their friends, who had launched a search upon noticing their absence.
A medical officer from the Health Ministry later confirmed that both individuals had died.
The bodies were handed over to the police and taken to Lundu Hospital for post-mortem examinations.

