KOTA KINABALU: A school swimming outing at Kampung Bakasan Beach, Karambunai, near here turned into a tragedy when a pupil drowned.
The victim, Krispinus Raja, 12, from Sekolah Indonesia, Kota Kinabalu, was swimming with several friends.
Sabah Fire and Rescue Department assistant superintendent Riki Mohan Singh Ramday said they received an emergency call about the incident at 8.57am.
"A team of officers and members from the Kota Kinabalu Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) was dispatched to the location to conduct a search and rescue (SAR) operation.
"The fire department carried out the SAR operation using Surface Water Rescue techniques, which involved searching the water surface with a rescue boat in the area where the victim was reported missing," he added.
The victim was found at 10.25am by the fire department team, 40 metres from shore at a depth of two metres.
"The victim was confirmed dead by medical personnel at the scene. The body was handed over to the police for further action," he said.