KOTA KINABALU: Three secondary students participating in a school camping excursion drowned at the Resort Lake Eco in Membakut near here, this morning.
Victims Hafiz Hamizan Rahman and Daniel Norman, both 16, and Khuzaimi Zakaran, 17, were students from SMK Putatan.
It is learnt that the three had gone for a swim at 9am when the camp was conducting jungle trekking activities for participants.
State Fire and Rescue Services Department Public Relations Officer Superintendent Mohd Affendy Ramin said six fire and rescue personnel were dispatched to the scene upon receiving a distress call at 9.40am.
The boys were retrieved from the water by several teachers who were participating in the camp excursion.
All three were pronounced dead by paramedics who arrived at the scene shortly after.
“One (body) was taken to the Beaufort hospital in an ambulance, while the other two were taken to a clinic in Membakut by their teachers,” said Affendy, adding that Fire and Rescue personnel remained at the scene to monitor the area and ensure that no other victims were involved.
A total of 120 students and 30 teachers were part of the school camp.