ARAU: A 10-year-old boy drowned after he slipped into Sungai Alor Redis, near here, yesterday evening, when he was out fishing with five of his closest friends.
Muhammad Asshabil Harraz Junaidi, a Year Five pupil of SRK Jejawi, was said to have fallen into the river, before being swept away in the 6.15pm incident.
The public managed to rescue the boy and subsequently rushed him to the Tuanku Fauziah Hospital, but he died when receiving treatment.
Asshabil's father, Junaidi Md Daud, 41, said his son was fond of fishing with his friends, so much so he could not contain his excitement to go fishing again with his friends, after not being able to do so as he was away celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri back in the mother's hometown in Kedah.
"My wife and I were reluctant to let him go out fishing, since we had made dinner plans at a restaurant in Pauh that night.
"When I got home from work and found Asshabil not at home, I did not suspect anything until we received a phone call about 7pm telling us that our son had fallen into the river not far from our home, and drowned.
"We rushed to the emergency unit at the hospital, before we were informed he was already gone," said Junaidi, who has come to accept the death of his second son.
Kuala Perlis Fire and Rescue Department Assistant Superintendent Md Azlan Jamaluddin, when contacted, said upon receiving a distress call, a fire truck with six personnel was dispatched to the scene, before a search and rescue operation commenced.
"Our operation was aided by the locals. We believe the victim was still alive when found at an area nearby a bridge at Sungai Alor Redis, before he was handed over to the paramedics who initiated preliminary treatment and thereafter rushed him to the hospital," he said.
Meanwhile, Arau district police chief Superintendent Ku Yaacob Ku Hamad confirmed receiving a report on the incident. The case has been classified as sudden death.
