MELAKA, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- A teenager, believed to have gone missing while looking for crabs in the coastal reclamation area near Pantai Klebang here, was found drowned late this afternoon.
Melaka Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Assistant Director of Fire and Rescue Operations Division, Senior Fire Superintendent II Mohd Shahrom Laji, said Muhammad Arif Daniel Nizamuddin, 16, a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institution student, was found near the waters of Pulau Upeh at about 7:20 pm today.
"The victim was found by fishermen near Pulau Upeh, about two nautical miles from the mainland, before the Search and Rescue team went to the location to retrieve the victim's body.
"Identification of the victim's body was carried out by family members at approximately 8:30 pm before it was handed over to the police for further action," he said in a statement here today.
Meanwhile, Melaka Tengah District Police Chief ACP Halim Abas, when contacted, confirmed the discovery of the victim's body late this afternoon.
He added that the victim's body was sent to the Melaka Hospital Forensic Department, and a post-mortem is expected to be conducted tomorrow.
The media previously reported that the victim, who was the youngest of two siblings, was feared drowned while catching crabs in the coastal reclamation area near Pantai Klebang here yesterday.
During the incident at around 3:00 pm, Muhammad Arif Daniel was believed to have been swept away by strong waves or stepped into a deeper area before going missing.
Based on initial information, Muhammad Arif Daniel and a friend went to the area to catch crabs before he reportedly swam towards the open sea and was pulled under by waves before disappearing.
-- BERNAMA