Bodies of young drowning victims recovered

Rescue personnel recovering the body of one of the drowning victims.

SIBU: The bodies of two teenagers who drowned yesterday in Sungai Seduan were recovered this morning.

According to sources, the first body belonging to Pau Chiong Huat,18, was recovered about 15 metres from the scene at 10.33am today while the body of James Tiong Kiong Hoe,12, was recovered at 11.42am.

The two victims and three friends were fishing along the river yesterday evening. One of the victims was said to have encountered difficulties when trying to retrieve a fishing line that was snagged underwater. The second victim attempted to rescue the first but got into difficulties himself.

Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) and Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) personnel were immediately despatched to the scene following a distress call at around 7.15pm.

Underwater rescue personnel (PPDA) had initially began searching within a 10-metre radius from where the victims had fallen in.

The search and rescue operation resumed early this morning using water surface and underwater searching.

It was said the victims disappeared underwater in a location about two metres from the river bank. The river’s depth was estimated at five-metres during high tide and two-metres during low tide, while its width is 30-metres.

The search and rescue operation was ended at noon today.