Segamat.com

From NST Online
2010/03/07

SEGAMAT: Two youths drowned as they were helping a friend from being swept away by strong current at Sungai Redong here about 6pm yesterday. Muhamad Afif Akram Mohamad Said and Mohamad Taufik Simail, both 18, had jumped into the river to help a friend, Mohd Faiz Kamarulzaman, who was struggling while taking a dip in the river. Faiz, 18, survived by swimming towards the riverbank.

Segamat district police chief Superintendent Abdul Majid Md Ali said Faiz managed to pull himself back to the riverbank but could only watch helplessly as the other two were swept away by the strong current. The three had earlier joined another three friends to go fishing at the river. Majid said Faiz had decided to go for a swim but later got into difficulties due to the strong current.

All of them are awaiting their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia results. Majid said a rescue team found the bodies near the location at 8.50pm, almost three hours after the two went missing. "Both bodies were taken to the Segamat Hospital mortuary for post-mortem before they were claimed by their respective family members."

Majid said the site of the incident was near a sand mining area, and did not rule out the possibility that the victims may have got stuck in sand in the river bed before being swept away.