BACHOK: Nine-year-old Muhamad Irfan Afendi, who went missing at Pantai Kemayang yesterday, has been confirmed drowned after his body was found washed ashore along the same beach on Wednesday (Dec 24).
Bachok deputy OCPD Deputy Supt Mohd Azrie Sulaiman said the victim was discovered by villagers about 1.5km from the location where he was believed to have been playing in the water before being swept away by strong currents.
He said Irfan was found at 10.45am on Wednesday and the body was handed over to the police to be sent to Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia for a post-mortem.
"I advise the public to be more cautious when carrying out activities at the beach as the country is still experiencing the Northeast Monsoon season.
"The police, together with the Malaysian Civil Defence Force, are conducting daily monitoring along the coastline to advise visitors to remain vigilant,” he told reporters at the scene on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the boy’s father, Mohd Afendi Ya, 44, said Irfan was supposed to take part in a mass circumcision ceremony this weekend.
"I had promised to take him to the beach at Pantai Kemayang to fulfil his wish before the circumcision.
"I did not expect this tragedy to occur because before he was swept away by the current, I had already called out to him to return to shore and he was only playing at the water’s edge,” he said.
Afendi said it happened in the blink of an eye when his son was carried away by the waves, and he was deeply distressed as he was unable to save him due to the strong waves at the time.
On Tuesday (Dec 23), Bernama reported that a nine-year-old boy was feared drowned while swimming at the beach.- Bernama
