School boy drowns in Ciputat pool

JAKARTA (JP): A 15-year-old boy drowned during a weekly swimming lesson with his school sports teacher at a swimming pool in Ciputat, South Jakarta, on Sunday.

Alexander Pajungking, a first year high school student at SMU Widuri at Cinere, was believed to have plunged into a two-meter deep area of the pool and failed to resurface.

Chief Sgt. Hotman of Kebayoran Lama police sub-precinct said yesterday that the sports teacher, Soprianto, was unaware of the drowning although he stood not far away.

"The teacher never thought that Alexander would dive into the pool without his permission," officer Hotman said. "That's why he didn't warn him."

Soprianto, who had accompanied Alexander and 20 other students on their weekly outing, pulled the boy's body from the water.

Doctors said Alexander died as a result of sudden shock and suffocation from swallowing water, according to police.

The weekly swimming lesson at the pool, owned by the Policewomen's School (Sepolwan), was optional for the students.

Soprianto intended to lead the students in warm-up exercise for about 10 minutes before starting the lesson, Alexander's father, Berto Pajungking, quoted his son's classmates as saying.

Before the warm-up exercises, Alexander and some friends took a chance by playing around the pool, Berto said.

"I don't know what exactly happened but according to the police, his teacher said it was merely an accident.

"Alexander perhaps was too excited that he did not consider the risks."

Berto, a father of two, lives on Jl. Limo at Cinere.

Police officer Hotman said the teacher had already been questioned, however, the school declined to provide any information about the incident. (04)