JERANTUT: The body of a Year Six pupil, who drowned while swimming in Sungai Tembeling near Kampung Kuala Sat here yesterday, was found today.
The remains of Ali Mustaqim Rizman was found 18m under the river, around 20m from where he was last seen at about 3.05pm.
District police chief Superintendent Azman Mat Kassim said the victim was swimming with his friends and his remains were sent to Jerantut hospital.
"Investigations revealed the SK Kuala Sat pupil in Ulu Tembeling here had gone to the river for a swim with five friends about 3.20pm yesterday. Some 20 minutes later, the victim shouted for help when he experienced difficulties in the water.
"His five friends and a woman who was at the riverbank witnessed the incident. The woman shouted for help but there was no one around, so she ran to alert the villagers nearby. When they returned, the victim had gone missing and was feared drowned.
"The villagers alerted the Kuala Tembeling police station before a search-and-rescue operation began at 4.20pm with assistance from the police, firemen, villagers and boat operators. The operation ended at 7.10pm yesterday due to darkness and resumed at 9.30am today," he said in a statement today.
Azman said divers from the Fire and Rescue Department's water rescue unit found the victim's body on the riverbed at a depth of 18m. The search operation officially ended at 5pm today.
Mustaqim was taking a dip in the river with his friends, when he was suddenly swept away in the river and was reported missing.
