ALOR SETAR: Two brothers were found drowned this afternoon after they were caught in a whirlpool while swimming at the Sungai Sedim waterfall near Kulim.
District police chief Redzuan Salleh named the brothers as Mohamad Syazwan Yusof, 25, and his brother Mohamad Syafiq, 33. They were said to be swimming with three friends at the waterfall at 3.20pm.
It is learnt that they were caught in a whirlpool but four of them managed to escape to safety except for Syazwan. His brother Syafiq jumped back into the water to save him, however both were feared to have drowned, Redzuan said.
The two men were from Tasik Gelugor, Penang.
Redzuan said villagers helped in the search and rescue operation.
In another incident in Chukai, Terengganu, a father drowned while trying to save his 12-year-old son who got into trouble while swimming in a river at Lubuk Tapeng, Air Putih.
Mirwan Remli, 40, a factory worker, was believed to have been swept away by strong currents while trying to save his son Zafran Aidil.
Kemaman district police chief Hanyan Ramlan said based on initial reports, the victim, his wife and two sons from Kampung Ibok near Kijal arrived at the location at 9.30am for a picnic.
However, one of the sons who was swimming in the river was suddenly dragged to the middle by strong currents. The father, who was fishing nearby, dived into the river to save him.
The boy managed to save himself by clinging to a tree branch nearby but the father disappeared under the water, he said.