KUALA LUMPUR: A swift action by a soldier successfully saved four teenagers from drowning after the boat they were in capsized while fishing at a lake in Puncak Alam, Selangor, yesterday.
The police received a report at 12:30 p.m. from a member of the public informing them that four teenage boys had fallen into the lake.
Sungai Buloh District Police Chief, Superintendent Mohd Hafiz Muhammad Nor, said that upon receiving the report, the police immediately contacted the Bukit Jelutong Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) and dispatched a patrol car to the scene to offer assistance.
"Upon arriving at the location, the police were informed that the four teenagers, who were feared to have drowned, had already been rescued by a passersby," he said in a statement today.
He added that the quick actions of a Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) member, Mohd Nor Khalid, who was stationed at the Sungai Buloh camp, successfully saved the four teenagers from drowning.
Fishing is a popular activity in Malaysia, both as a recreational hobby and a way of life for many individuals.
According to investigations, the incident occurred when the four victims, along with two other 13-year-old boys, were fishing at the lake.
"They were using a boat that had been left by the shore to go fishing when it capsized in the middle of the lake. However, two of the teenagers managed to save themselves as they were skilled swimmers," he said.
In light of the incident, Mohd Hafiz expressed the police's appreciation and gratitude to Mohd Nor for his role in rescuing the teenagers.
"Parents are advised to always supervise their children to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future," he added.