KOTA KINABALU: In a tragic twist, two boys died after taking a swim in a river where one of them was earlier rescued in Sabah’s east coast Lahad Datu district.
It was believed that Nur Naufal Iqbal Mohammed Nizam and Mohammad Juiqram Julmasalleh, both aged 11, were carried away by the water current while swimming with some friends at Kampung Tabanak at about 4pm on Friday (Feb 2).
Nur Naufal was saved by the public and was rushed to the hospital for treatment while Mohammad Juiqram went missing.
However, Nur Naufal died while being warded at the Lahad Datu hospital at about 4am on Saturday (Feb 3) while Mohammad Juiqram’s remains were found later the same day at 11.30am.
“Mohammad Juiqram’s body was found by the older brother, some 30m from where the boy was last seen,” said Lahad Datu Fire and Rescue station chief Sumsoa Rashid, when contacted.
He said the department was alerted about the incident at 4.39pm on Friday.
A team of eight firefighters was rushed over to Kampung Tabanak.
The brother of Mohammad Juiqram crying over the boy’s body while being consoled by villagers.
They were also assisted by the Civil Defence Force (APM) and the Lahad Datu Wildlife Department, he added.
After gathering information on the ground, he said, they established that two children had encountered difficulties in the water.
Sumsoa said they continued the search for Mohammad Juiqram after they were informed that Nur Naufal was rescued by civilians.
He said that Mohammad Juiqram’s body was handed over to the police for further investigations.
“The operation ended at noon (on Saturday),” he said.
