THE body of a second boy reported missing while bathing at a waterfall in Sungai Plan Lot, Kidurong, Bintulu, has been recovered, confirming a double drowning tragedy.
The victim, identified as Daren Dakun Paruscrum, 12, was discovered by members of the public at 11.19pm on Saturday at the same waterfall where he had earlier gone missing.
A spokesperson for the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department said authorities received a call regarding the discovery at 11.20pm, prompting a response from the Kidurong fire station.
"A team from the Kidurong Fire and Rescue Station was immediately dispatched to the scene and subsequently retrieved the victim’s body to the riverbank before handing it over to the police for further action," the spokesperson said.
The discovery followed the earlier recovery of the first victim, Tristan Mariss Marissa Erna, 12, whose body was found at about 5.20pm the same day, approximately five metres from the riverbank in waters estimated to be nine metres deep.
The incident is believed to have occurred at around 2pm, when both boys, along with two friends aged 13 and 14, were bathing at the waterfall.
"Before the incident, both victims, together with two other friends — a 13-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl — were believed to have been bathing at the waterfall at about 2pm.
"Both victims were last seen at about 2.30pm before they were suspected to have drowned," the department said in an earlier statement.
Emergency services were alerted at 3.22pm, after which a search and rescue operation was launched by personnel from the Kidurong Fire and Rescue Station.
The recovery of the second victim brings a sombre conclusion to the operation, with both boys now confirmed to have drowned. - March 22, 2026
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