Two students drowned while bathing at the Berkelah Recreational Forest Waterfall near here, yesterday evening.

The victims in the incident at 2.50 pm were Mohd Asif Rosmaini, 14, of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sri Jaya, Maran and Muhammad Shahrizal Aiman Shamsudin, 14, of Sekolah Menengah Agama Al-Foqiah, Bera.

Mohd Asif was from Felcra Sri Makmur here while Muhammad Shahrizal stayed at the Felda Lepar Hilir 08 staff quarters in Gambang, here.

Kuantan District Police chief ACP Abdul Aziz Salleh said the victims and several friends had gone to the waterfall at 2 pm.

However, he said their friends heard shouting for help and saw them in difficulties in the water at 2.50 pm. "They tried to help the duo but failed and sought the help of the public. They managed to pull the duo out of the water but they had drowned," he told Bernama today.

The bodies had been claimed by their next-of-kins, he added.