KEMAMAN: Two boys drowned while swimming at the Bukit Belah beach in Kuala Kemaman, yesterday.
Amir Shafik Azhari and Muhammad Arif Azharuddin, both 14 and from Kampung Geliga, died in the incident.
It was learnt that they had gone to swim with another friend, Alif Murshidi Awang, also 14, around 5pm.
However, they encountered difficulties in the water. Amir and Muhammad Arif drowned, while villagers only managed to rescue Alif.
District police chief Superintendent Mohd Said Ibrahim said Amir's body was found by rescue team soon after the report was lodged at the Chukai police station at 7.50pm.
He said the rescue team comprised former Maritime officers, policemen, firemen as well as villagers.
"The body of the second victim, Muhammad Arif, was found floating about 200 metres away from the scene at 6.40am today," he said.
Both bodies were sent to the Kemaman Hospital for a post mortem examination.