MERSING: The body of a 15-year-old Orang Asli boy who was feared drowned in a river in Endau has been found on Wednesday (March 25).
Endau Fire and Rescue station acting chief Asrul Ahmad said the victim identified as Muhammad Adam Haziq Muhammad Hazriq was found at 12.41pm by the Johor Fire and Rescue Department Water Rescue Unit (PPDA), 10m from where he was last seen near the Kampung Peta jetty.
"The search and rescue (SAR) operation took place at 9am today," he said in a statement.
Asrul said the Johor Fire and Department Operation Centre received a call on the drowning case at 9.24pm on Tuesday (March 24).
He said six firemen were deployed to the site and arrived at the scene located about 135km at 11.45pm.
Asrul said earlier the victim's family informed the police that they feared the boy drowned while swimming in the river.
He said the victim together with his three friends had gone to the river for a swim.
“Instead of swimming with them, he only sat by the river banks,’’ said Asrul.
Kampung Orang Asli Peta is located in the upper reaches of the Endau valley, along Sungai Endau in Mersing district and located about 200km from Johor Baru.
The village is famous as one of the main entrances to the Johor Endau-Rompin National Park (on the Johor side) and is inhabited by the Orang Asli community of the Jakun tribe.
