A candidate for the Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) examination drowned during a picnic with his family at the Belukar Bukit waterfall here Monday.

In the 11am incident, Amir Ashari Mohd Ariffin, 12, from Kampung Padang Tanjung, Marang, was believed to have fallen into the water while walking on some rocks at the waterfall.

According to his mother, Nor Islami Saad, 41, they arrived at the picnic spot with 10 other family members around 10am.

She said they were resting on the rocks after a swim, when the victim said he was going to take a look at the beautiful scenery around them.

"As he was walking on the rocks, he slipped and fell," she said when met at Hulu Terengganu Hospital.

Meanwhile, state Fire and Rescue operations officer Abdullah Zawawi Mohamed said Amir's body was recovered by a search and rescue team at 12.32pm, about 10 metres from the scene.