A 15-year-old boy drowned after disappearing while swimming with four friends in a river near Masjid Ulu Pulai, Kampung Ulu Pulai, Gelang Patah, last night.
The teenager was reported missing after he dived into the river but failed to resurface, prompting an emergency search and rescue operation.
Pekan Nanas Fire and Rescue Station senior fire officer and operation commander Md Bakhtiar Chik said the department received an emergency call about the incident at 6.15pm.
He said 17 firefighters and four vehicles were deployed to the location, which was about 15 kilometres from the fire station.
“Upon arrival, the fire department obtained information from the police and the victim’s four friends.
“According to witnesses, the victim did not resurface after diving into the river,” he said in a statement today.
Members of the public who became aware of the incident had initially attempted to search the river’s surface before the Water Rescue Team (PPDA) was deployed to conduct a diving operation.
The search focused on the area where the teenager was last believed to have been seen.
After several hours of searching, rescuers located the victim at the bottom of the river at about 10.05pm.
Md Bakhtiar said the teenager was found at a depth of approximately four metres and about two metres from the riverbank.
The victim was subsequently handed over to police for further action, while the search and rescue operation was fully concluded at 10.30pm.
