Two boys drown while bathing in river

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BINTANGOR: Two SMK Bandar Bintangor students drowned in Sungai Engkeranji, Entabai in Julau district while bathing in the river on June 7.

They are Andrew Guang Martin Saran, 14 and Andy Luta Pagun, 15, both from Taman Bintangor housing estate here.

According to Andrew’s father Martin Saran, a policeman, he believed his son was trying to rescue Andy after the latter fell into the water about 3pm. Both were non-swimmers.

“We returned to our longhouse (Rumah Tius) in Sungai Engkeranji to celebrate Gawai Antu. Andrew and Andy told us that they wanted to take a bath at the river.

“When they did not come back after some time, we went to check the jetty,” he said when met at ‘the nyenggai antu’ (wake) at his house here yesterday.

Deputy Minister of Information, Communication and Culture Datuk Joseph Salang and Sarikei MP Ding Kuong Hiing were among those who paid their respects and conveyed their personal condolence to the family.

PAYING LAST RESPECTS: Salang (standing second left) at Andrew’s wake. Behind him is the boy’s father Martin.

Martin said when they did not see Andrew and Andy at the jetty they immediately informed the longhouse folk to search for them.

The search operation ended after they found the bodies at 3am on June 8, he said.

“Andrew’s body was found first about 50 metres from the jetty. Andy’s was found later about three metres away from Andrew’s.”

He said they brought the bodies to Sarikei Hospital for a post mortem.

Martin and Pagun, both civil servants based in Sibu, said they decided not to lodge a police report because they believed no foul play was involved in the boys’ tragic death.