DUNGUN: A weekend outing at a waterfall for 18 friends turned into tragedy when one of them drowned at Lubuk Kain, Kampung Shukor, Hulu Dungun.
In the incident at 3pm yesterday (Friday), Mohamad Shafie Abdullah, 22, from Felda Kertih 6, Kampung Ketengaah Jaya, had jumped into a pool from a height of 3m.
Shortly afterwards, Shafie, a teacher at the Kertih industrial area in Kemaman, was swept away by strong currents and drowned inside a deep swirling pool.
One of the deceased’s friends, Abuzar Shamsuddin, 18, who survived the ordeal, said that he was distraught at not being able to help Shafie owing to strong currents.
“I could not do much. The rocks were slippery and the currents were strong. Fortunately, some of my other friends threw a towel for me to grab on to be pulled to safety.
“Unfortunately, we could not save Shafie, despite also hurling a towel for him to grab as he had become too weak,” said Abuzar.
Dungun police chief Superintendent Ahmad Zailani Yaacub confirmed the incident.
He said the deceased’s remains were sent to Dungun Hospital for post-mortem before burial at the Felda 5 Kertih Muslim cemetery.