Two friends drown while swimming at Kota Tinggi

KOTA TINGGI: Two men in their 20’s drowned after going for a swim at Pantai Batu Layar, Bandar Penawar, here.

Bandar Penawar fire station chief and operation commander Khairul Sufian Dahari said that the department received the distress call at 10.59am on Tuesday (March 23).

“The two victims, identified as Muhammad Hibatullah Hakim Razak and Muhamad Hariz Farhat Omar, both 23, are believed to have gone swimming during the low tide before being swept away by the current.

“The body of Hariz was found by members of the public about 30m from where he was last seen. The department had conducted CPR before he was pronounced dead at the location by the medical team, ” he said in a statement here on Wednesday (March 24).

He added that a search and rescue operation was also conducted along the beach and on the sea by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and the marine police.

The department has also used a drone to search for the second body.

“The body of Hibatullah was later found 200m from where he was last seen at 3.27pm on Wednesday.

“The department had used the MMEA boat to retrieve the body due to the rough sea condition, ” he said adding that the bodies have been handed over to the police for further action.

He added that a total of 31 personnel and officers were involved in the search and rescue operation including MMEA, marine police, the police, Civil Defence Force (APM) and the Pengerang Municipal Council (MPP).

Meanwhile, Kota Tinggi OCPD Supt Hussin Zamora had confirmed the report on the case.