Body of drowned 9-year old boy found

ALOR SETAR : The body of a 9 year-old boy was found  face down and trapped in mud in an approximately 3-metre deep riverbed at about 10.50am on Sunday.

Muhammad Wafi Abu Bakar was believed to have drowned while bathing and swimming at Sungai Kubang Rotan that is near his Taman Flora, Kuala Sungai home.

His body was found about 100 metres from where he was believed to have drowned while swimming with friends at about 5.30pm on Saturday.

According to 9-year old Mohd Adam Syafiq, Muhammad Wafi was believed to have drowned after he was swept away by strong river currents.

Mohd Adam, who is Muhammad Wafi’s friend said he saw Muhammad Wafi floating and submerging in the water before he went missing.

“He didn’t scream for help,” said Mohd Adam.

The Alor Setar Fire & Rescue Station received a call of the incident at about 6.51pm on Saturday, with searches carried out until midnight on Sunday before resuming at 8am on the same day.

25 firemen and 19 Civil Defence Department personnel were involved in the search & rescue operation.

State Fire & Rescue Department Operation CommanderAbdul Razak Ahmad said; “The victim was found trapped in the muddy riverbed near a bamboo tree by the riverbank.”

He added that the body of the deceased had been handed to the police for further action.

Muhammad Wafi, a Standard 3 pupil of SK Alor Janggus was the fourth child in a family of six siblings.