SEREMBAN – A tragic accident claimed the life of a nine-year-old boy at a primary school in Lenggeng on Saturday morning after he fell into a 1.8-metre-deep sewage drain inside the school compound.
The victim, a Year Three student and son of the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PIBG) president, was said to have fallen through a fibre-type manhole cover around 9am during the school’s athletics championship programme.
Lenggeng assemblyman Datuk Mohd Asna Amin, who was at the school to officiate the event, said he rushed to the scene immediately upon hearing about the incident.
“At that time, many students were in the area because of Sports Day. A female student reported that a child had fallen into the hole. I went straight to the spot, but initially we could not see anything. Later, they noticed the victim’s school hat and shoes floating,” he said.
One of the residents then dived into the drain to bring the boy up. It is understood that the victim was trapped for about 10 minutes before being pulled out.
“Rescue efforts, including CPR, were carried out for nearly 30 minutes while waiting for the ambulance. Sadly, the hospital later confirmed that the child had passed away,” Mohd Asna added.
He also revealed that the school building had only been inaugurated last year and should have obtained the Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CF) before being used. “I will wait for the full report before any further action,” he said.
Negeri Sembilan Police Chief Datuk Alzafny Ahmad confirmed the incident, stating that the victim was brought to Tuanku Jaafar Hospital (HTJ) in Seremban but was pronounced dead while receiving treatment.
“An autopsy will be conducted at Rembau Hospital to determine the exact cause of death. So far, investigations show it was an accident, with no criminal elements found,” he said.
Police also urged the public not to speculate and to provide any information to the Nilai IPD Operations Room at 06-7902222.