A 5-year-old Boy Drowned In The Ciliwung Manggarai River While Taking The Hanyut Sandal

Rescue workers are looking for the body of a 5-year-old boy drowned in Ciliwung Manggarai River/ Photo: IST

JAKARTA - A boy named Gerry (5) died after drowning in the Ciliwung River, Jalan Slamet Riyadi 4, RT 07/04, Kebon Manggis Village, Matraman District, East Jakarta, Monday, July 15, afternoon.

The victim fell into the Ciliwung River while playing on a bridge near the scene.

The East Jakarta Gulkarmat Sub-dept. rescue officer who received a report of a drowning person then jumped into the location and conducted a search for the victim.

The victim's body had disappeared from drowning and was found about 2 kilometers from the location where the missing victim drowned and was dragged by the flow of the Ciliwung river.

"The victim was playing on the edge of the river, his sandals were washed away. Then he tried to take it but it fell and was swept away in the Ciliwung river. Residents who saw him shouted that someone had drowned," said Matraman Sector Piket Officer Harry Purnomo to reporters.

A total of 4 rescue personnel were deployed to look for the victim's whereabouts. Luckily, after a joint team and local residents searched, Gerry's victim's body was found. But when found, Gerry was dead.

"The victim was found by residents at the Manggarai floodgate in a state of death. Members check and take data," he said.

Gerry's body was taken to the funeral home on Jalan Slamet Riyadi 4, RT 08/04, Kebon Manggis Village, Matraman District, East Jakarta.

Meanwhile, based on the testimony of a witness named Tuti, at the scene, many children played on the banks of the river.

"Usually, the children play there, he sits alone there. I saw there, his feet were already in water with one leg, I wanted to take sandals. I said don't fall. Not long after, he took it straight away. I shouted as fast as I could, it was tight," Tuti told reporters at the location.

However, Tuti regretted that when the incident occurred, the situation in her area was quiet from residents' activities.

"No one. The incident was still at 4 pm. The victim was 5 years old, the victim was here," he said.