Singaporean boy, 10, drowns in cruise ship’s swimming pool in Langkawi

SINGAPORE — A Singaporean boy was found drowned in a swimming pool onboard a cruise ship in Langkawi on Monday (Nov 18).

Local police identified the boy as Alan Heng Kai Lun, 10, who was on vacation with his mother and a friend, reported Malaysian news agency Bernama.

The cruise ship, Genting Dream, had departed from Singapore on Nov 17 for a three-night cruise.

The ship was docked at the Star Cruise Jetty in Langkawi when the boy was found unresponsive in one of the swimming pools onboard, Bernama reported.

Local police received an emergency call at around 7.30pm regarding the incident and initial investigations found that the boy had drowned while bathing in the pool.

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Langkawi district police chief Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim said in a statement that a pool attendant and other visitors were in the pool but failed to rescue the boy, Bernama reported.

In response to queries from TODAY, Dream Cruises said the ship’s onboard medical team immediately tried to resuscitate the boy, but were unable to revive him.

“Dream Cruises is cooperating with the relevant authorities on the incident and providing all the necessary assistance to the family members in this time of difficulty,” it said in a statement.

In response to media queries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur was aware of the "unfortunate accident" and expressed its deepest sympathy to the family.  "We are in contact with the family, and will continue to provide the necessary consular assistance," it added.