Ridwan Kamil's Child Cries For Help Before Being Swept Away By The Current In The Aare River, Heard By Local Residents

The family, Elpi Nazmuzzaman, gave a press statement regarding the disappearance of the son of West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, Emmiril Khan Mumtadz, in the Aare River. (Screenshot/VOI/Wardhany Tsa Tsia)

JAKARTA - The son of West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, Emmiril Khan Mumtadz, had shouted for help until people around the Aare River in Bern, Switzerland were heard before being swept away by the current. This was conveyed by the family, Elpi Nazmuzzaman.

"Eril shouted 'help', so the families on the other side immediately ran to look for it. Now, residents who were on the river bank also heard the cries of 'help' and reported to the police," said Elpi in a press conference held online on Saturday, May 28.

In addition, Elpi explained, Eril swam with his sister and a friend who had lived in Switzerland for a long time. While Eril and the other two were swimming, there were also other tourists.

"The family information we received was that there were elderly and children around, so the measure should be safety," he said.

Not only that, Eril also observed the situation around the Aare River before swimming there. In fact, he forbade his mother, Atalia Praratya to go swimming.

"(Eril, ed) made sure that his mother did not come down. So at the location he was with his family and he made sure only those who had sufficient skills (to swim, ed). So that was the situation, "explained Elpi.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Ambassador to Switzerland Muliaman Hadad said the Aare River is indeed a popular tourist spot. However, this is not the first time Eril has experienced this.

"Similar incidents occur between 15-20 cases every year," Muliaman said on the same occasion.

"Why there are so many, because this is where a lot of people swim," he added.

However, he ensures that the safety of this tourist spot is guaranteed. The reason is that there are many signs or reminders at the location as well as information about currents and temperatures uploaded by local authorities that can be accessed by the public.

Previously, Eril was reported missing while swimming in the Aare River on Thursday, May 26. This incident occurred when he and his family were looking for a campus to continue their undergraduate education (S2).

Eril, who was swimming with his sister and friends in the Aare river at that time, was dragged by the current when he was about to rise to the surface. After this incident, the SAR team and local police immediately conducted a search.