Youth drowns in strong whirlpool

BOGOR (JP): Eighteen-year-old Muhammad Haris was found dead after drowning two nights ago in a whirlpool in the Ciliwung river at Kampung Pangkalan, Kedung Halang Talang here.

Haris and four of his friends were swimming in the river at noon on Sunday while a group of five other boys sat on the bank watching when suddenly a strong whirlpool sucked Haris deep into the water.

"I tried to help him and told him to grab a bamboo stick but he just went still and the water swallowed him," Taufik, one of his friends, said.

The current was calm and the water was only about chest high, Taufik said.

Haris' family tried to locate their son with the help of local residents but to no avail.

On Tuesday morning, Haris' body was found floating in the river. It was later taken to PMI Hospital for a post mortem examination before being buried by the family. (edt)