KOTA KINABALU: A search for molluscs ended in tragedy for a family of four when two boys drowned in Sabah’s south-western Papar district.
The incident involving the brothers aged 12 and 13 years old occurred at a roadside tributary off Jalan Beringis-Kawang at about 3pm on Monday (Jan 23).
Papar OCPD Supt Kamaruddin Ambo Sakka said they were alerted about the incident at 3.02pm on Monday.
From their initial probe, he said, the boys had accompanied their mother and grandmother looking for the molluscs earlier before they went for a swim on their own not too far from them.
“The women then realised the boys were unconscious in the water,” he said in a statement here on Tuesday (Jan 24).
“The mother asked for help from passers-by while the grandmother ran back home to Kampung Kawang not too far away also to get more help from villagers.
“With their help, the boys were then removed from the tributary,” he added.
Supt Kamaruddin said they rushed the boys to the hospital but the victims were believed to have died on the way.
Police have ruled out foul play at the moment, he said, adding that the incident has been classified as sudden death.
