The body of a 16-year-old boy who fell into a river in Kuching has been recovered after a two-day search and rescue operation.

KUCHING: The body of a teenage boy feared to have drowned after falling into a river in Kampung Kolong Sungai Tengah last Friday has been found.

The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department Operations Centre confirmed the body of 16-year-old Fahril Zaquan Hasbullah was discovered today about 2.7 kilometres from the activated Disaster Operations Control Centre.

A department statement said the search and rescue team was dispatched to verify the discovery after receiving information from members of the public.

The body was subsequently taken to the Masjid Kampung Tengah Sungai jetty for identification by his family before being handed over to the police.

The Fire and Rescue Department initiated the search and rescue operation last Friday together with other relevant agencies immediately after receiving a report of the incident.

It is understood the victim was playing with a friend on the riverbank near Sekolah Kebangsaan Tan Sri Datuk Haji Mohamed before falling into the water.

The strong current swept the boy away, prompting his friends to alert local residents after their own attempts to rescue him failed.

 The Sun Malaysia