KAMPAR, Nov 2 -- The bodies of three
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) students, who had drowned at the
Batu Berangkai Waterfall, here, were found late Sunday night.
Yew Shy Gin's body was found at 11.10pm, and the other two bodies, at 10.20pm and about midnight.
The first body was found about 300 metres from the spot where they were last seen and the second and third bodies were discovered not far from where the first body was found. All the three bodies were sent to the Kampar District Hospital.
However, another student who was also swept by the strong current, managed to swim to safety.
Abdul Aziz said a search and rescue operation following information received was immediately mounted by the police with the help of a fire and rescue team and villagers.
The incessant rain, the swift current and darkness had hampered the search operation.
A witness, Syed Sarudin Syed Shamsuddin, 41, said the incident happened after heavy rain at the waterfall area.
"My three children and I had sought shelter at a hut on the river bank while the three victims and others continued swimming in the river.
"The water level rose slowly before I heard a loud gush of water pounding on the rocks and saw four people being swept away by the swift current," he recalled.
A villager, Razali Abdullah, 32, said he was nearby at the time but could not help the victims as the current was very swift.
"I heard cries for help and saw three people struggling in the swift-flowing water," he said.
According to Razali, the UTAR students and others seen picnicking there about 3pm were advised by the local residents to go home as the waterfall could be dangerous during the rainy season.
Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and state executive councillor Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon visited the scene of the incident Sunday night.
Dr Mah said the 22-year-old second-year accounting student from Kuala Lumpur who survived the incident only had minor injuries.
The incident happened a week after three primary schoolchildren drowned in the Kampar River when the suspension bridge they were walking on with several other pupils collapsed.
May three of them rest in the peace...
