Infant drowns in river after falling off float

BALING - A one-year-and-seven-month-old male infant drowned, believed to have fallen off an inflatable boat he was in with his father, at about 11.51am on Saturday in Lubuk Pedati.

A witness who refused to be identified said that it happened when the victim, Adryan Mikhael Mohamad Afiq, his father, and another child were on the boat.

"However, the float hit a bamboo tree, causing the victim to fall," he said.

It is reported that another two-year-old boy was successfully rescued while the victim was swept away by the river current.

Baling Fire and Rescue Station chief Mohd Jamil Mat Daud said that he received a distress call on the incident at 12.04pm.

A team of Baling firemen led by Senior Fire Officer II Mohd Jusoh Abdul Wahab arrived at the location shortly after for a search and rescue operation, he added.

"Kedah Fire and Rescue Department Operation Centre also requested information from the Volunteer Fire and Rescue Force (PBS) nearby.

"The operation was also assisted by mountain rangers, police, the Civil Defence Force, the Outdoor Recreation Association, and the public," he said when contacted today.

Jamil said that the body was found about 3.3 kilometres from where he was reported missing.