KUCHING: An outing to search for snails by three teenagers turned tragic when one of them drowned at a river near a bridge at Kampung Pichin in Serian yesterday evening.
The deceased was identified as 16-year-old student Mohd Cairul Raezdan from Kampung Hilir Serian. The drama unfolded when the victim jumped into the river which was said to be quite deep.
His two friends said they swam towards him in the hope of saving him from drowning when they saw Cairul calling for help.
The friends claimed they almost drowned in the failed rescue attempt. They said they frantically sought help by calling emergency numbers and managed to get the police and Fire and Rescue personnel at 1.30pm, who then conducted a search and rescue operation.
Cairul’s body was sent to Serian hospital for post mortem. Serian district police chief DSP Chung Aik Peng confirmed receiving a report on the incident.