Residents Find 13-Year-Old Boy Who Drowned In Ciliwung Dead

Officers and residents around the Ciliwung river when the child was found drowned/ Photo: Rizky Sulistio

JAKARTA - The 13-year-old boy who disappeared while swimming in the Ciliwung River, Kwitang, Senen, Central Jakarta, was finally found by residents. The victim was later identified as Muhammad Rian (13), a resident of Johar Baru.

When found, the victim's body was already at the bottom of the Ciliwung river. It is estimated that the victim drowned several hours ago at around 12.30 WIB.

The victim's body was found by a diver from the local residents. Amar (31) Kwitang resident, said he managed to find the victim's body from the bottom of the Ciliwung River after diving 3 times.

"Alhamdulillah, it was found. I helped dive into the water 3 times and finally, Alhamdulillah, I found the victim's body," Amar told VOI at the location, Wednesday, September 22.

Amar told how the victim was found. That Wednesday afternoon he was at home and heard that someone had drowned.

"At first I was at home, I got news that there was a drowning victim before Basarnas came. I wanted to help but that was the job of Basarnas, at first I was afraid of being scolded," he said.

But Amar's good intentions finally paid off. According to Amar, he was sure that the victim's body was still under the bridge in the Ciliwung River, in the direction of Kwitang, Senen District.

"I have a feeling that the victim is still in the area. After Basarnas arrived, then there were people from outside helping to find (swimming) so I finally dived in that area. I dived three times and was found around 15.00 WIB," said Amar.

After he dived into the water, about 10 minutes later Amar managed to grab hold of the victim's leg at the bottom of the river.

"The distance he found after I plunged was not up to 10 minutes. The important thing is that I found it. When he was found, the victim was already dead, I think, because he had been drowning for hours," he said.

Then Amar lifted the victim's body to the surface of the water. Furthermore, the victim's body was evacuated by local divers, Gulkarmat officers from Menteng Subdistrict and Basarnas who participated in the search.

The victim was taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital to confirm the victim's condition. Meanwhile, the case is being handled by the Senen Police Headquarters.

Previously, it was reported that residents of Jalan Inspeksi Kali Ciliwung, Kwitang, Senen District were shocked by the presence of a 13-year-old child who drowned in Ciliwung River, Senen District, Central Jakarta.

According to Rahmat (38), the boy initially swam with his friends at that time. Then one of the group of children was swept away by the current and drowned.

"We were swimming at first. The information was that the children were from Johar Baru. They swam and finally one of the group of children drowned," he said at the location, Wednesday, September 22.

Then some of the victim's friends shouted for help so the residents could hear. Residents then reported to the nearest Fire Department office for rescue.