RANTAU PANJANG: An 11-year old girl was found drowned, while her companion remains missing after falling into a river at Kampung Petai Dusun around 6:30 pm yesterday.
Commander of the Rantau Panjang Fire and Rescue station Azmi Jaafar said that Siti Aishah Mahzi, was discovered at 7:15pm yesterday before being reported dead while undergoing treatment at Tanah Merah Hospital (HTM) here.
He added that the friend of the victim, Nur Damia Qaisara Mohd Sabri, 11, has yet to be located.
"The fire department received a report regarding the drowning incident, and a team of firefighters rushed to the scene.
"Based on the reports, both victims were aged 11. The first victim found at 7:15 pm, died while undergoing treatment.
"A Search and Rescue (SAR) operation to locate another victim is currently underway," he said.
Meanwhile, a witness and friend of the victims, Nurin Natasha Qistina Mohd Fairul, 11, said she saw Damia and Aisyah holding hands as they jumped into the river, after which both appeared to be submerged.
She expressed shock and uncertainty about what to do before quickly informing Damia's father, Mohd Sabri Mohd Noor, 33, about the incident.
"Both of them were close friends who were always together. I had warned them not to jump, fearing the swift current, especially during this monsoon season.
"Perhaps due to excitement, they didn't hear the warning and jumped into the river. There was no sound of them calling for help; instead, they were swiftly carried away by the current in the blink of an eye.
"I am deeply saddened to hear that Siti Aishah is no longer with us, as both of them were also my good friends," she said at the scene.
