KOTA KINABALU: One of the two teenagers swept away by river currents in Penampang district on Saturday (June 18) has been found drowned, while another remains missing.
Penampang fire station chief Zeno Tingalan said Harold Walter’s body was found by the riverbank at Kg Pagansakan, some 3km from where he was last seen.
He said Harold was found at around 2.45pm on Sunday (June 19) while the search continued for the remaining victim, Tomansi Olaf.
Both boys were with four other friends - Jeremiah Maxwell, Constant Felix, Jameson Johnwai and Bryan Lee - all 17-year-olds, who were having a picnic at a river in Kg Pogunon prior to the 4pm incident on Saturday.
He said they went for a swim when the river currents turned strong, sweeping away two and trapping four others.
He said the boys had gone to the river in Kg Pogunon and had to cross two streams before reaching the main area for a swim.
“So as they were swimming, the currents suddenly grew strong,” Zeno said when contacted Sunday.
He said four of the boys managed to scramble to higher levels while Harold and Tomansi did not make it.
The four others were then trapped at where they were as they could not cross the streams, now turned into a river, to get home.
Zeno said when firemen were notified of the incident at around 4.10pm, teams of rescuers were sent to rescue the victims.
“Due to the strong river currents, one of our men had to tie himself with a rope while bringing life jackets to the four boys across the river,” he said.
The fireman, he said, was forced to brace the currents, half swimming half clinging on to a rope he was tied to, while others held on from the other end, to get to the boys.
“Once there, he asked the boys to put the life jackets on while he secured the rope on a steady and strong point, before bringing the boys across one by one,” Zeno said.
Family and friends of the missing duo had earlier asked for help on social media for anyone residing at Kg Pogunon and its surrounding areas to keep an eye out for the boys.
