KUANTAN: A mechanical engineering student at Politeknik Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah (Polisas) in Semambu had drowned while swimming with his eight friends at Berkelah Waterfall on Saturday.
In the 3.30pm incident, the body of 19-year-old Muhammad Ashraf Amran was only found by the search and rescue team after three hours.
"He was my eldest son and the hope of the family, however fate is determined by Allah," said police corporal Fatimah Awang on the passing of her son.
The 44-year-old, who is based at the management department at Bukit Aman said when she found out about the incident at 5pm, she had immediately rushed from Kuala Lumpur.
She said, according to one of her son's friend, known only as Yasmin, Ashraf have dived into the river and that was the last she saw of him.
Fatimah admitted that she broke down when she saw her son's body at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA) at 10pm last night.
She however emphasised that she had accepted what had taken place as it is a test from God.
Fatimah had said that she last met Ashraf, two weeks ago, when he was on his semester break.
He had asked for her to make ayam masak merah (chicken in spicy tomato sauce), his favourite dish.
The mother also noted that prior to the incident, Ashraf had been spending more time with the family, even though he usually prefers to meet up with his friends instead.
"He was safely buried at Tanah Perkuburan Islam at Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan at noon (today)," she said.
Meanwhile, state Fire and Rescue Department public relations officer Anuar Hassan said that the deceased's body was found by the Underwater Rescue Team at 6.01pm yesterday, and was then brought to HTAA for post-mortem.
He confirmed that it was a friend of Ashraf who made the emergency call to the Taman Tas Fire and Rescue station.