A nine-year-old boy is feared drowned after being swept out to sea by strong waves while swimming at Pantai Kemayang in Bachok.
KOTA BHARU: A nine-year-old boy is feared to have drowned while swimming at Pantai Kemayang in Bachok.
The victim has been identified as Muhamad Irfan Mohd Afendi.
Bachok Fire and Rescue Station chief Ahmad Ridhuan Mohamad Ghazali said an immediate search and rescue operation was launched following an emergency call at 7.15 pm.
The operation received assistance from the Water Rescue Team from the Pengkalan Chepa station.
A witness, Suzilawati Noorrashid, 24, said the victim had been swimming with his two younger siblings when conditions deteriorated.
As the waves grew stronger and the wind picked up, people on the beach began moving to shore.
She said the boy was making for the shore when a powerful wave suddenly pulled him back out to sea.
A member of the public attempted a rescue but was thwarted by rocks on the embankment.
The operation is currently in progress with further developments to be updated.
