Boy, 9, feared drowned at Pantai Kemayang

Boy, 9, feared drowned at Pantai Kemayang

BACHOK: A 9-year-old boy is feared drowned after he was swept away by currents while swimming with his family at Pantai Kemayang here today.

In the 6.40pm incident, Muhamad Irfan Mohd Afendi disappeared in front of his father, Mohd Afendi Ya, 44.

Afendi said he was at the beach with his wife, Kartini Mahmood, 44, and their two children to fulfil Irfan’s request to swim before his scheduled circumcision next week.

“We were about to head home and were calling out to him. We saw him being pulled further away by the waves.

“He was struggling and waving his hands. I tried to reach for him but could not get to him before he vanished before my eyes,” he told reporters at the scene today.

Bachok Fire and Rescue Station operations supervisor Mohd Khairul Fais Ariffin said they received an emergency call at 7.14pm.

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A search and rescue (SAR) operation has been launched involving more than 30 personnel, including the Water Rescue Team (PPDA) from Pengkalan Chepa and voluntary firefighters.

As of tonight, the team has conducted a coastal search covering a radius of up to 5km.

“We will begin diving operations tomorrow morning as the waves are currently too strong and risky. No new leads have been found so far,” he said.

A control centre has been established at the beach to coordinate the search for the Year Three pupil.