Two Boys Drown While Bathing In Irrigation Canal In Kuala Perlis

KANGAR, Oct 31 (Bernama) -- Two boys drowned while bathing in an irrigation canal in Kampung Padang Besar Selatan, Kuala Perlis, this evening.

In a statement, Kangar deputy police chief Supt Baeyah Abdul Wahab said police received information about the incident at 4.40 pm.

She said Iskandar Zulkarnain Mohd Faizal, 8, was pronounced dead at the Kuala Perlis Health Clinic, while Muhammad Haikal Hakim Mohd Yuhanis, 10, was confirmed dead at the Red Zone of Hospital Tuanku Fauziah here.

Before the incident, between 3.30 pm and 4 pm, the victims were believed to have gone to play football, but their older brothers later found them playing in the irrigation canal near the field.

“One of the boys swam towards the middle of the canal and appeared exhausted before struggling and starting to drown. The other boy jumped in to help but was also dragged under,” she said.

Baeyah said one of the victims’ brothers jumped into the canal to rescue them but failed due to its depth. Both victims were later pulled out unconscious by villagers and taken to the Health Clinic before being referred to the hospital.

She said the canal, located near a residential area, had recently been deepened to improve water flow and was about two metres deep. The case has been classified as sudden death.

-- BERNAMA