A man's wish to spend the remainder of his vacation with his two friends ended on a tragic note off a beach in Pulau Perhentian Kechil yesterday.

Mohd Amirul Ihsan Sulong @ Alias, 21, was bathing with the friends off the Spice River Beach when he incurred difficulties keeping afloat and drowned in the incident about 3pm.

His friends,

Mohd Faiq Hazwan Mohd Hizam, 24, and Khairul Amsyar Jasmine, 24, also struggled in the water but were rescued by a group which was in the vicinity.

Besut police chief Supt Mohd Zamri Mohd Rowi said today, Mohd Amirul Ihsan, from Kampung Bukit Kuang, Kemaman had earlier stayed in a chalet at Pasir Panjang.

He said fishermen and the public recovered the body before it was sent to the Besut Hospital.

-- BERNAMA