KOTA KINABALU: A 15-year-old boy drowned at Pantai Shahbandar, Tuaran, after he was reported missing while swimming with his family on Wednesday evening.
The Sabah Fire and Rescue Department said they received a distress call about the incident at 5:52pm via the MERS999 emergency line.
Tuaran Fire and Rescue Station chief, Mohamad Nor Amit, said 11 personnel, including an officer, were deployed to the scene along with a fire engine and an Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) utility vehicle.
"Upon arrival, the team gathered information and immediately launched a search and rescue (SAR) operation covering a 4-kilometre stretch along the beach," he told reporters.
The operation was also assisted by the Water Rescue Team from Kota Kinabalu.
Search efforts continued overnight, and at 5:50am on Thursday (Feb 13), the victim was found about 700 metres from where he was last seen.
The body was subsequently handed over to the police for further action.
The operation, led by PBKI KUP Mahmud Jumah, involved a total of 15 personnel along with various assets, including fire and emergency medical rescue services (EMRS) vehicles and a rescue boat.
The operation concluded at 8:30am on Thursday (Feb 13).
This incident is not the first case of drowning reported at Pantai Shahbandar, Tuaran. On July 22, 2023, a 10-year-old girl drowned while a 7-year-old boy was found in a weakened state after both encountered difficulties while swimming.
Earlier, on June 1, 2022, the body of Md Habbibullah Juhadi, a 21-year-old student from Politeknik Kota Kinabalu, was discovered approximately 700 meters from where he was last seen after being reported missing while swimming with friends.
