JOHOR BARU: A teenager drowned while another was rescued after the pair got into trouble while swimming in a river near a petrol station at Taman Bayu Senibong here on Sunday (July 12).
The Johor Fire and Rescue Department said it received an emergency call at 3.31pm and dispatched a team from the Johor Jaya Fire and Rescue Station to the scene.
The first responders arrived at 3.44pm and found that one of the victims had already been rescued by members of the public before their arrival, while the second teenager was still missing.
Firefighters immediately carried out an initial assessment before launching a search and rescue operation at the scene.
The department’s Water Rescue Team (PPDA) was later deployed to assist in the search, while the rescued teenager was taken by the Fire and Rescue Department’s Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) unit to Hospital Sultan Ismail for further treatment.
The missing teenager was found by the PPDA at about 6.01pm, some 20m from the riverbank at a depth of approximately 6m.
He was pronounced dead at the scene before his body was handed over to the police for further action.
The operation, involving 17 personnel members and assets comprising a fire rescue tender, an EMRS vehicle, a Hilux four-wheel-drive vehicle and a rescue boat, was brought under control at 6.08pm and concluded at 7pm.
Meanwhile, newly elected Johor Jaya assemblyman Chan San San said she rushed to the scene with her team after receiving news of the incident on Sunday evening.
“I was informed that two teenagers had drowned, and my team and I immediately went to the location. The Johor Jaya Fire and Rescue Department arrived and deployed its diving team to search for the missing victim.
“One of the teenagers was rescued and sent to hospital, and I have been informed that his condition is stable. Sadly, the other teenager was found dead at around 6pm,” she said in a statement.
Chan added that she visited the victim’s family at the hospital earlier today together with representatives from the school and Johor Baru City Council councillor Chong Sze Ming to convey their condolences.
“My deepest sympathies go to the family during this difficult time. I hope they will be given strength and resilience as they cope with this heartbreaking loss,” she said.
