Three university students drown at Gombak waterfall

Three university students drowned today in a waterfall in Batu 16 Gombak where they had gone to spend the public holiday, according to police.

Gombak Police chief ACP Ali Ahmad said they were Muhammad Abdullah, 22, of the International Islamic University of Malaysia (UIAM), Sazwan Rahim and Azrul Hisham Azman, both 27, and Master's students at the Islamic Science University of Malaysia (USIM).

He said that at about 10.30am, one of Muhammad's slippers fell onto the whirlpool of the waterfall, referred to as the Lubuk Jepun Waterfall, and he tried to retrieve it but slipped and fell into the four-metre-deep whirlpool.

"Sazwan and Azrul Hisham tried to help their friend, but they also got into difficulties," he told reporters here.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Mohd Sani Harul said the department was notified at 10.41am and despatched fire and rescue personnel who reached the location at 11.36am.

"The three bodies were retrieved by members of the public," he said.

It is learnt that the bodies would be brought to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital for the post-mortem. -- Bernama