Body of boy, feared drowned at Pantai Bersih, found

BUTTERWORTH: The body of an 11-year-old boy, feared drowned while swimming with several friends near the Bagan Ajam fisherman’s jetty at Pantai Bersih here yesterday, has been found.

Muhammad Mikhaeil Muqmin Abdullah’s body was found by fishermen, caught in a fishing net (pukat), before the authorities were alerted.

Seberang Prai Utara district police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Radzi Ahmad said Muhammad Mikhaeil’s remains were found about 9am today.

“The search and rescue (SAR) operation, which was called off yesterday evening, resumed about 7.30am today.

“It involved five boats from various agencies, which managed to locate the boy’s doby not far from where he was reported missing,” he said.

He said the body was sent to the Seberang Jaya Hospital for a post-mortem before the boy’s family could claim it.

It was reported that Muhammad Mikhaeil was feared drowned during a swimming excursion with several others near the Bagan Ajam fisherman’s jetty at Pantai Bersih here Monday afternoon.

The Fire and Rescue Department was alerted to the incident about 5.45pm, and a SAR operation was immediately activated to locate the missing boy.

When firemen arrived, they were told that the boy was swimming with several friends before he was swept away by strong currents.

An angler tried to rescue the boy, but to no avail.

NST