PENAMPANG: An outing for five teenage friends at a river here ended in tragedy when two of them drowned this afternoon.
Nordiana Elesar, 15 and her friend Dinda were found drowned by villagers and rescue personnel in the incident that happened around 1.30pm.
It is learnt that the group, including a boy, had gone to the river at Kampung Kibunut here.
Others called for help when the two victims slipped into the water.
District Fire and Rescue station chief Zainal @ John Radsung said they received call at 1.50pm and despatched its personnel to search for the victims with locals.
“Not long after that, a villager found both victims at the riverbed at 3.17pm not far from the last location they were reported to be missing at 3.17pm.
“Both bodies were handed to police for further action,” he added.
Meanwhile, another friend Ema Mulisun, 15, said she had tried to hold the hand of one of the victims during the incident but failed to save her as the water was deep.