College student drowns while swimming with friends in Dungun

DUNGUN, Aug 7 — A Kolej Ketengah student in Bandar Al-Muktafi Billah Shah was found drowned after swimming with nine friends at Sungai Loh in Kampung Jongok Batu, Hulu Dungun, near here yesterday. 

Bandar Al-Muktafi Billah Shah Fire and Rescue Station Operations Commander, Senior Fire Officer I Kamal Suhaimi Abdullah, said the victim, Ahmad Al Hafiz Asri Ahmad, 19, was found by volunteer fire brigade members trapped between rocks about 10 metres from where he was reported missing at 5.20pm. 

He said the victim, from Kampung Jaya Baru, Jalan Felda Bukit Bading in Ajil, Hulu Terengganu, was believed to have drowned after jumping into the river and failing to resurface at about 4.40pm. 

“Initial information from the victim’s friends indicated that the victim, who was pursuing a Diploma in Islamic Tourism Management at Kolej Ketengah, had gone to Sungai Loh with nine friends for a swim at about 11 am,” he said in a statement last night. 

Eight firefighters and three volunteer fire brigade members were involved in the search and rescue operation. 

The victim’s body was later taken to the Forensic Unit of Dungun Hospital for a post-mortem. — Bernama