JOHOR BARU – A teenage boy drowned, and his friend is still missing after they went swimming at Batu Layar Beach, Kota Tinggi, this afternoon.
Kota Tinggi district police chief Hussin Zamora said his department received a call about the incident from the public at 1.25pm.
He said initial information revealed that the two victims had gone to the beach with four other friends from Kluang and their respective parents were aware of the outing.
“Civilians at the scene of the incident helped save the first victim, a 17-year-old boy, but it was later confirmed that he had died.
“The victim’s body has been taken to Kota Tinggi Hospital for an autopsy,” he said in a statement tonight.
Meanwhile, Hussin said the search-and-rescue operation for the missing 16-year-old boy was temporarily halted at 7.30pm due to failing light and rough waves.
“The operation will resume at 8am tomorrow,” he said and added that the operation was also assisted by the Fire and Rescue Department, Civil Defence Force, and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency. – Bernama, January 22, 2023
