A 14-year-old boy drowned while swimming with three friends in Sungai Pak Mat Akar, Wakaf Mek Zainab here, this afternoon.

Kota Bharu Fire and Rescue operations chief, Senior Officer II Mohd Redzuan Baharuddin said the victim, Mohd Shahiram Hakim from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Zainab 2, was believed to be not a good swimmer.

He said they received a report on the incident at 12.03pm and arrived at the scene together with 12 personnel 10 minutes later.

Mohd Redzuan said the search and rescue operation, which also involved the fire station's Water Rescue Team (PPDA), found the body of the victim about two metres from where he was reported missing, at 12.50pm.

The three other friends of the victim were safe, he said when contacted.

He said the body had been handed over to the police to be sent to the Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital. - BERNAMA