Student drowns while trying to save friend

A Form Four student of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Dol Said drowned after trying to save a friend from the same fate in Sungai Kampung Petai at around 2pm on Saturday.

Alor Gajah Fire and Rescue chief R. Bajiyen said its Water Rescue Unit and Civil Defence Department personnel found the body of the victim, Mohd Razif Ramli, 16, on the riverbed.

He said they were alerted that Mohd Razif went to the river for fishing with five friends, before one of them, Mohd Shamil Akmal, 16, almost drowned while swimming, at around 10.30am.

"Without any hesitation, Mohd Razif jumped into the river to save his friend but he himself drowned while his friend was rescued by his other friends," he told reporters at the scene.

The victim's body was sent to Melaka Hospital for post-mortem.

Meanwhile, the victim's mother, Hamidah Ismail, 52, said her son had turned into a shy person since last week.

She said Mohd Razif, the youngest of five siblings, should have followed his father to the barber shop but the victim went to the river instead.