College student drowns in outing at Lata Tembakah

An outing for 18 students of Astonia College, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan turned into a tragedy when one of them drowned at Air Terjun Lata Tembakah, Hulu Besut this morning.

The victim, identified as Mohd Noor Haqim Rustam, 17, a second-year student in Astonia College's automotive certificate programme who hailed from Kampung Air Baloi, Pontian, Johor was said to have gone swimming alone on the fourth level of the waterfall.

A friend of the victim, Ahmad Irfan Akmal Ahmad Khaidir, 17, said after swimming for half an hour, they heard the victim scream and tried to help him.

"My friend and I ran to the Forestry Office to get help, but when we reached the scene, he (Mohd Noor Haqim) could not be seen anymore and we feared that he had drowned," added Ahmad Irfan Akmal who came from Kampung Binjai, Kota Bahru, Kelantan.

Meanwhile, Fire and Rescue Department commander of operations Mustaffa Ismail when contacted, said a search and rescue (SAR) operation involving the Jerteh Fire and Rescue Station, members of the public and the villagers was deployed as soon as a report of the incident was received at 12.20pm.

He said, around 1.40pm, the victim's body was found by the SAR team between four to five metres at the bottom of the waterfall, and the police sent the remains of the victim to the Besut District Hospital's Forensic Unit.

-- BERNAMA