KOTA BARU: A teenager who is feared to have drowned while bathing at the Pangkal Kalong sluice gate in Kok Lanas on Tuesday desperately clung to a friend's neck before disappearing underwater.
Shahiran Aidil Shamsuri, 14, said he and Muhammad Aqif Aisar Azrie Faisal, 13, along with two other friends, arrived at the sluice gate around 4.30pm to swim.
While they were swimming, the current suddenly became stronger, putting them in harm's way.
"He (Muhammad Aqif Aisar) and another friend clung to me. Aqif held onto my neck but lost his grip. I swam to the riverbank and saved another friend, but Aqif had already gone under. We immediately called for help from the villagers," Shahiran recounted at the scene.
He added that they had also bathed at the same location the day before, but Muhammad Aqif Aisar had not entered the water then.
Shahiran said they were shocked by the strong current adding he is now afraid to swim in the river again.
The search and rescue operation at the location is ongoing.