TANJUNG MANIS: A search and rescue (SAR) operation was activated yesterday to locate a teenage boy feared drowned after a hangout with friends turned tragic at Sungai Batang Paloh late Thursday night.
The incident is believed to have happened around 10.05pm when 17-year-old Alex Rudy Roy Ali was sitting on a jetty near Rumah Panjang Wun, Bekarkong with two friends.
According to the friends, the victim suddenly dove into the river and failed to surface after three minutes. This prompted the friends to jump into the river to search for him but to no avail.
Longhouse residents were alerted of the incident and a search was carried out along the river before contacting the rescue agencies.
Fire station chief Wan Umar Wan Alek said his men were despatched to the scene, which is about 37km from the station, after receiving a distress call around 11.11pm.
As at press time, the search operation is still ongoing and the victim is yet to be found.
