Two young boys drowned in a deepened irrigation canal in Kuala Perlis after one struggled in water and the other attempted rescue.
KUALA PERLIS: Two young boys tragically drowned while bathing in an irrigation canal in Kampung Padang Besar Selatan this evening.
Police received information about the incident at 4.40 pm according to Kangar deputy police chief Superintendent Baeyah Abdul Wahab.
Eight-year-old Iskandar Zulkarnain Mohd Faizal was pronounced dead at the Kuala Perlis Health Clinic.
Ten-year-old Muhammad Haikal Hakim Mohd Yuhanis was confirmed dead at the Red Zone of Hospital Tuanku Fauziah in Kangar.
The victims had reportedly gone to play football between 3.30 pm and 4 pm before their older brothers found them in the canal.
One boy swam toward the middle of the canal and appeared exhausted before struggling and starting to drown.
The other boy jumped in to help his friend but was also dragged under the water.
One of the victims’ brothers attempted a rescue by jumping into the canal but failed due to its significant depth.
Villagers later pulled both unconscious victims from the water and took them to the Health Clinic.
The irrigation canal had recently been deepened to approximately two metres to improve water flow.
Police have classified the case as sudden death following the tragic incident. – Bernama
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