KOTA TINGGI: An outdoor excursion among eight friends ended in tragedy when one of them drowned at the Felda Lok Heng Selatan wetland area on Monday night.
The body of Muhammad Faez Salahuddin was found by a Search and Rescue (SAR) team from the Bandar Penawar fire station at 1.45am on Tuesday, some nine hours after he is said to have slipped and fallen into the wetland.
Kota Tinggi district police chief Superintendent Ashmon Bajah said the 4pm incident occurred after the victim and his friends reached the wetland area for a swim during heavy rain.
"The victim may have been swept away by strong currents which formed during the downpour," he said.
Ashmon added that Faez’s friends were unable to help him as he was quickly swept away and disappeared into the water.
"A SAR operation was quickly mobilised, comprising 18 personnel, including six divers," Ashmon said.
Faez’s remains were sent to the Kota Tinggi Hospital for a post mortem.
It is learnt that the body has already been claimed by next-of-kin, and that the funeral will be held later at the Mount Austin Muslim Cemetery.