Latest news with #drowning
Free Malaysia Today
7 hours ago
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Malaysian man drowns while diving in Aceh
The diver was said to have attempted to surface following the instructor's instructions but lost consciousness upon reaching the surface. (Freepik pic) PETALING JAYA : A 33-year-old Malaysian man drowned while diving in the waters off Iboih in Kota Sabang, Aceh, Indonesia, yesterday morning. Berita Harian reported that the victim was diving at the popular site with two other Malaysians and a dive instructor when the incident occurred at 9.30am. The daily quoted Berita Rakyat Aceh as saying Indonesian police rushed to the site after receiving a report. The group had been diving for about 20 minutes at a depth of 30m when they were caught in a strong underwater current. The victim was said to have attempted to surface following the instructor's orders but lost consciousness upon reaching the surface. He was immediately assisted by the others and taken to Pantai Iboih in a speedboat. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was administered by the instructor and fellow divers before he was taken to a nearby clinic. He was pronounced dead upon arrival an hour later at 10.30am. His body was taken to Sabang City Hospital for a post-mortem. The remains are expected to be repatriated to Malaysia once the post-mortem is completed.
The Sun
17 hours ago
- General
- The Sun
‘Beautiful' schoolboy, 15, drowns in river after passers-by tried to save him as his devastated family pays tributes
A FAMILY have paid tribute to their "beautiful" boy who drowned in a river despite passers-by trying to rescue him. Lotus Bowker, 15, from Kirkham, Lancashire, died after getting into difficulty in water on May 17. Emergency services were called to the riverbank at around 2:30pm and the teenager was airlifted to hospital. But despite medics' best efforts, he passed away the following morning. Cops have urged anyone with information related to the boy's death to come forward and urged people to "think twice" before going into open water. The lad's parents have paid tribute to their "beautiful boy" who they say is "sadly" missed by his family. They said: "Our beautiful boy, sadly missed by his Mummy, Daddy, his brothers and sister deeply. Words cannot describe the pain we are going through.' Regarding the tragic incident, DI Adie Knowles, said: "First and foremost my thoughts remain with Lotus's loved ones at this incredibly difficult time. "They have lost a son and a brother in the most tragic circumstances and I just want to echo David's words around water safety. "I'd just ask that people think twice before going into rivers, reservoirs or any form of open water. You are unnecessarily putting your lives at risk, and I really don't want to have to knock on your parents door to tell them that you won't be coming home." "Any individuals with information related to Lotus's death should contact Lancashire Police on 101, quoting log 834 of May 17, 2025." 1
The Independent
a day ago
- General
- The Independent
Drowning of two teenagers remains an ‘open wound', funeral is told
The drowning of two teenagers off the coast of Co Donegal remains an 'open wound', a priest has said. The funeral of Matt Sibanda heard that the 18-year-old was 'undeniably wise and good beyond his years'. Matt, originally from Zimbabwe, died in the incident earlier this month along with Emmanuel Familola, 16, originally from Nigeria. They had been playing football when they went into the sea after a ball and got into difficulty. Matt's body was recovered from Lough Swilly while Emmanuel was rescued and taken to Letterkenny University Hospital, where he died. Both teenagers had been living with their families in separate international protection centres in Buncrana. Buncrana Parish Priest Father Francis Bradley told the funeral at St Mary's Oratory on Saturday that members of Matt's family had travelled to Ireland for the funeral to support his mother Bonnie. He said: 'Over the past three weeks there has been a lot of visiting going on locally. 'Especially in the light of the tragic events, the tragic deaths of Matt Sibanda and his good friend Emmanuel Familola. 'The events of the afternoon of May 10 last will remain with us for a long time. 'While some distance has been drawn now from those terrible moments, the loss of Matt and Emmanuel is still an open wound, a sore blow for all of us, but most especially for their grieving families. 'We are all struggling still to come to terms with the loss, still speechless at the suddenness of it, still heartbroken at the enormity of it. 'While the world has moved on in some respects, we are nevertheless still numbed by the sadness of what happened.' He added: 'From his earliest days in Zimbabwe through to his time here in Buncrana, Matt has always been recognised for his quiet but sociable presence, his smiling face and his great ability to always listen and respond with a deeply respectful and generous heart. 'In the building which became his home since his arrival here in late 2023, Matt was the eldest child and with his great gifts and talents, particularly the respect he showed to everyone, but most especially to his mother, he became a natural leader, a first among equals. 'He was undeniably wise and good beyond his years with an ability to sit with other children reading, debating and learning with great enthusiasm, always curious to know a little more. 'His surname Sibanda means lion. Our new Pope has taken the name Leo, which also means lion. 'Both Leo and Matt Sibanda shared something important in common, as well as their Catholic faith, their ability to listen to all sides of the debate, never judging, but helping all sides to reach a better solution. 'All of this stemmed from a profound respect for his mother. He always listened to her and he never, ever spoke back to her, even once, throughout his 18 years. 'A man of few words, a good and kind boy, a humble kid.'
Daily Mail
a day ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Pictured: Boy, 15, who drowned in river despite passers-by making desperate efforts to save him - as family warm others of open water dangers
A teenage boy who died after drowning in a river despite desperate attempts by passers-by to save him has been pictured for the first time. Police were called to help assist Lotus Bowker, 15, from Kirkham, Lancashire, who had got into difficulty in the water close to Garstang Cricket Club at 2.33pm on Saturday, May 17. After receiving CPR from members of the public on the riverbank, the teenager was then airlifted to hospital in a critical condition. However, despite medical personnel's best efforts, he sadly passed away the following morning. Following Lotus's tragic death, Maria Mercer, a friend of the young boy's family, launched a GoFundMe campaign in a bid to help 'give him the best send off'. Describing the devastating incident as an 'ordinary day' that 'quickly turned into an unimaginable nightmare', Ms Mercer added: 'Lotus was more than just a teenager - he was a son, a brother, a friend and a shining light in the lives of everyone who knew him. 'His smile could lift a room, and his energy was infectious. He had dreams, laughter to share and a whole life ahead of him. That future was stolen in a moment that will never be forgotten.' Given the tragic circumstances of their son's death, Lotus's family are now seeking to warn other youngsters about the dangers associated with swimming in rivers and open water. Remembering the life of their 'beautiful boy', a statement from the family on the fundraising page read: 'Sadly missed by his Mummy, Daddy, his brothers and sister deeply. Words cannot describe the pain we are going through'. Lotus's father, David, who also paid tribute to his 'lovely boy', said: 'He meant the world to me, my wife, daughter and four sons. 'I wouldn't wish this on anyone. Those waters aren't meant to be swam in.' David also advised any individuals, particularly young people, to 'think twice before visiting these dangerous locations', adding that they can often create 'costly cheap thrills' that should be avoided, irrespective of social pressures or a desire to be included. One local eyewitness, Nick Hill, previously told the BBC of the horrors that unfolded that fateful day, stating: 'The area was quickly cordoned off and I saw a police officer interviewing a tearful young girl among a group of backpackers'. Adding that the section of the River Wyre that Lotus had been swimming in 'is regarded by the Environment Agency as dangerous with several warning signs', he further remarked: 'It is a few yards beyond the flood control gate, a small area of invitingly calm water before a series of weirs.' The retired journalist also said that he had previously seen 'young boys leaping in from a high vantage point despite the obvious hazard'. Regarding the tragic incident, DI Adie Knowles, of West CID, said: 'First and foremost my thoughts remain with Lotus's loved ones at this incredibly difficult time. 'They have lost a son and a brother in the most tragic circumstances and I just want to echo David's words around water safety. 'I'd just ask that people think twice before going into rivers, reservoirs or any form of open water. You are unnecessarily putting your lives at risk, and I really don't want to have to knock on your parents door to tell them that you won't be coming home'. Any individuals with information related to Lotus's death should contact Lancashire Police on 101, quoting log 834 of May 17, 2025. It comes as new figures released on Wednesday by the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) indicated that 193 people died from water-related incidents across the UK in 2024 . Up to 84 per cent of the accidental water deaths were male, with inland waters, such as rivers, canals, lakes, reservoirs and quarries, accounting for almost all fatal incidents.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
The Subtle Signs Of Drowning Every Parent Should Watch Out For This Summer
The second-leading cause of unintentional death in children ages 1 to 4 is drowning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is because the majority of kids under six who drown in a pool were not supposed to be in the water, said Dr. Sarah Denny, an Ohio-based pediatrician, American Academy of Pediatrics spokesperson and former lifeguard. 'We know that at this age they are mobile, they're fast, they're curious, but they have no sense of danger whatsoever,' Denny said. As pool party and beach season kicks off this summer, so do the number of kids that drown: Two-thirds of drowning deaths for children in America happen between May and August. To keep your kids safe, drop your assumptions of how well you think a child should swim and how you think someone will typically call for help if they are in the water. Here are the signs of distress to watch out for and myths about drowning that just aren't true. If you realize a normally talkative child is suddenly silent, check in on them. Unfortunately, drownings often happen when adults nearby are unaware that a child is in danger. The common pop culture representation of drowning is not what it usually looks like, but the idea is pervasive. In a 2016 survey by Safe Kids Worldwide, about half of U.S. parents of young children said they believed that if their child was drowning nearby, they would hear splashing, crying or screaming. But too many times, drowning occurs silently. 'People in distress in the water rarely yell or wave for help, because they are spending their time trying to keep themselves afloat,' said B. Chris Brewster, chair of the national certification committee for the United States Lifesaving Association and a former lifeguard chief in San Diego. 'If you are going to wait until someone yells 'Help!' or waves their arm, you may completely miss the person struggle and submersion.' Denny noted that it's much more common for children to drown silently. 'They are just trying to get their mouth above the water. They don't have extra energy to wave or yell,' she said. 'It's very quiet and very quick. As a former lifeguard and having seen this happen, I can tell you that if you are not looking for it, it's hard to necessarily notice.' That's why it is so important to keep eye contact on children and be within arm's length of them in water at all times, as multiple water safety guides recommend adults do for beginner swimmers. Drowning in kids can appear as an obvious struggle to stay afloat. 'The problem is that can be a very brief period of time,' Brewster said. Denny said subtle drowning distress can also show up as looking panicked and bobbing up and down in the water. Other signs can include an unfocused gaze, closed eyes, hyperventilating, a mouth at water level, hair over eyes, a person in vertical position not using their legs in the water or appearing to be climbing an invisible ladder, according to ocean rescue experts. A sudden disappearance is also a big clue. If you can't find a kid and you are near a body of water, check the water ASAP. 'If you are somewhere where there is water or a pool and you are looking for a child and you can't find them, check the pool first,' Denny said. Even if you are within sight of a pool, don't assume you will always see a person submerged under it. 'People think you can easily see beneath the water where the person is, but because of light refraction and even a little bit of wind on the water if it's an outdoor pool or reflection from an overhead light if it's an indoor pool, it can be very difficult to see below the surface of the water,' Brewster said. The most important and effective step to reducing fatal drowning is to prevent children from getting into this kind of dangerous scenario in the first place.1. Assign dedicated watchers every time there is a pool gathering or beach outing. 'When everybody is watching, nobody is watching,' Denny said. 'We see this all the time: A whole group of adults are around and a child drowns, and it's not anyone's fault, but it's just [that] everyone assumes everyone else is watching.' An assigned watcher should not be drinking or distracted with doing a separate activity like reading a book or playing cards, even if a lifeguard is present, according to Water Safety USA organization. Their full-time job does not end until people are out of the water or they hand off responsibilities to another person. To prevent fatigue, Safe Kids Worldwide recommends setting a 15-minute shift of responsibility before the watcher passes off duties to the next assigned person. 2. Have barriers in place. Don't let curious young children fall into places where they shouldn't. For kids who don't swim and would not be expected to be in the water, 'the issue isn't normally the signs of drowning,' Brewster said, noting, 'In that case, the major issue is ensuring the pool is fenced.' To prevent kids from getting into a pool without adult supervision, safety experts recommend four-sided fencing with a self-latching and self-closing gate that will separate the pool from the house and yard. Detailed guidelines for what safety barriers in home pools should look like are available online from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. 3. Don't assume that just because a child has had a swim lesson that they can't drown. Yes, swimming lessons can definitely reduce a child's chances of drowning, but they are not a guarantee against it. 60% of parents surveyed by Safe Kids Worldwide said they would not worry as much about their child drowning if their child has had swim lessons. If a child swims well in a pool, it doesn't necessarily mean that they will swim excellently in a lake or an ocean. A child may have also forgotten how to be a good swimmer during the COVID pandemic, Denny said. 'Kids have not been in swimming lessons because of COVID; they may not have had the same water exposures that they had in summers previous to COVID,' she said, noting that it's key to have realistic expectations of your child's swimming abilities, as kids may think they can swim better than they do. 4. Learn CPR. If you happen to be the only bystander, knowing CPR can make the difference between life and death for a child. 'Knowing CPR and being able to start bystander CPR has actually been shown to improve long-term outcomes in children,' Denny said. 'Even if you don't know how long the person has been in, start right away.' Look up trainings in your community, or check out the American Heart Association, which has online and in-person trainings. My 6-Year-Old Son Drowned In Our Pool. Here's What I Wish I Had Known To Keep Him Safe. This Is How Easily Your Brain Can Forget A Kid In A Car Childhood Drownings Are Up. Here's How Parents Can Keep Kids Safe.
