Teen drowns while swimming with friends in Sandakan

Rescue workers carrying the boy’s remains.

KOTA KINABALU: The body of a 16-year-old boy was found some 15 hours after he was reported to have gone missing after taking a swim with friends in the east coast Sandakan district.

Mohd Amiruddin Juhardin’s body was found by villagers at a beachside in Batu Sapi at 8am on Saturday (Dec 30).

“His body was found some 30m from where he was last seen near a jetty on the beach the previous day,” said a Fire and Rescue Department spokesman when contacted.

“The victim was confirmed to have died before the body was handed over to the police for the next course of action,” he added.

The operation ended at 8.30am, the spokesman said.

Sandakan OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Fuad Abdul Malek previously said the teenager had gone missing after taking a dip with three other friends at the beach which was located behind Kilang Sinora at about 4.30pm on Friday (Dec 29).

He said the teenagers were diving from the jetty into the sea.

“However, when they were swimming, the victim suddenly screamed for help and his friends tried to rescue him but failed,” said ACP Abdul Fuad.