Two of the three students drowned at the Lubuk Jepun Waterfall in Gombak near here were found clinging to one another, according to a witness.

In the incident at about 10.30am Monday, Muhammad Abdullah, 22, Mohd Sazwan Rahim and Azrul Hisham Azman, both 27, were reported to have drowned while picknicking with three other friends at the waterfall.

The witness, who is also a friend of the victims, Muhammad Hisyam Haris, 21, said the body of Azrul Hisham was first to be found.

"It was difficult to retrieve Mohamad and Mohd Sazwan's bodies as they were at the bottom of the whirlpool," he said when met by reporters in the compound of the Kuala Lumpur Hospital's forensic unit.

Relating the incident, the Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) student said he wanted to help Muhammad, an International Islamic University student, who slipped and fell while trying to retrieve his slipper which had fallen into the whirlpool.

But, the rather deep water and the strong currents forced him to make a difficult decision not to go ahead with his intention.

"The whirlpool was about four-metre-deep. Azrul Hisham and Mohd Sazwan dived to rescue Muhammad, but they also drowned," he said, referring to the actions of the two USIM students.

Muhammad Hisham said he and the three victims and two other friends left Nilai, Negeri Sembilan at 6 am and arrived at the waterfall at around 10am before the incident took place.

He regarded the three victims as pious and had high religious education.

"They were all good-hearted," he said.

Meanwhile, Mohd Sazwan's mother, Sharifah Abdul Hamid, 49, said her son, the second of five siblings was a good person and had never brought difficulties to his family.

She said the last time they met was Aidilfitri.

"Mohd Sazwan was a quiet boy, he rarely came home but we often communicated via WhatsApp.

"I found out about the incident via a telephone call from his friend...I was shocked.. it was so unexpected but I accept God's will," she said on a sad note.

Mohd Sazwan was expected to be laid to rest at the Batu Muda Islamic Cemetery in Gombak on Tuesday morning while Muhammad and Azrul Hisham were expected to be taken to their hometowns in Malacca and Johor, respectively. -- Bernama