The body of a secondary school student
reported missing in the waters off East Coast Park, on Monday (May
8), has been found.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) posted the
update on its Facebook page at around 3.30pm.
A police spokesman said the body of the 12-year-old boy
was found by SCDF officers and pronounced dead at the scene. Police
are investigating the unnatural death.
The SCDF was alerted to the incident at 12.25pm. When
The New Paper arrived at the scene at around 1.50pm, the area near
Xtreme Skate Park was cordoned off.
About six lower secondary school boys wearing
Jurongville Secondary School's uniform were seen in the cordoned
off area.
An eyewitness, Silvia Hajas, 47, a homemaker, was
playing on a nearby sand dune with her eight-year-old daughter when
she heard the boys' cries for help.
She told TNP: "There were about seven boys 50 meters
away from shore. Three managed to swim back while four seemed to
have more trouble staying afloat."
She said she rushed into the water and pulled two boys
out. A third boy was rescued with the help of another man using a
lifebuoy.
The fourth boy disappeared by the time they had rescued
the third boy, Ms Hajas told TNP.
She added the missing boy was not wearing a
T-shirt.
"That sea is very harsh and deep. My feet couldn't
touch the ground," she said.
TNP