PETALING JAYA: A trip by a group of friends who went to play by a lake in Ara Damansara this afternoon ended in tragedy when four of them drowned while trying to retrieve a slipper.

The deceased were identified as Mohd Fikry Mohamad Ady and Hafiz Hakimi, both 14, Norasyikin Jamil, 12, and Raja Iskandar Shah Raja Shukri Amrun, 13.

Mohd Fikry’s brother, Mohd Huzain, 11, said he and the four victims had earlier gone to the lake about 3pm to play and take a dip.

“I was playing at the side of the lake. At that time, a slipper belonging to Norasyikin fell into the lake.

“My brother tried to retrieve the slipper by diving into the lake before getting into difficulties.

“At this juncture, the other three friends and I also jumped into the lake to rescue Mohd Fikry.

“We clung to each other but sadly, my brother and the three friends drowned,” he said, adding that he was rescued by two security guards who heard their cries for help.

Mohd Huzain was speaking to Bernama at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre’s (UMMC) Emergency Ward here today.

Meanwhile, Petaling Jaya police chief ACP Mohd Zani Che Din when contacted said the four victims were from the Lembah Subang People’s Housing Project in Ara Damansara.

He said a fire and rescue department team found the first victim at 5.30pm, followed by the second (6.06pm), third (6.10pm) and the last (6.11pm). The bodies were sent to the UMMC.

– BERNAMA