5-year-old boy drowns during family picnic in H. A. Atoll

A five-year-old boy has drowned while on a family picnic to an uninhabited island near H. A.  Dhidhdhoo.

H. Dh. Nolhivaramfaru Council has confirmed the identity of the victim as Ahmed Shifan, 5, from H. Dh. Nolhivaramfaru.

Vice President of Nolhivaramfaru Council, Ahmed Waheed reported to ‘Sun’ Shifan drowned while on a family picnic to the uninhabited island Kalhudhuffaaru, located near H. A. Dhidhdhoo.

The incident took place at 11:30 am this Thursday.

Shifan and his family visited Kalhudhuffaru this Thursday on a family picnic to enjoy the school holidays.

A family member who spoke to ‘Sun’ said Shifan had been playing on the beach with a group of children older than him while his mother and other adults prepared lunch.

The mother noticed Shifan was missing and discovered the boy drowned in the lagoon.

The reason for the drowning is unclear at this point.

Shifan’s body is currently at the H. A. Atoll Hospital in Dhidhdhoo.

Manager of H. A. Atoll Hospital, Mohamed Hashim confirms the boy was dead when taken to the hospital.

The mother, overcome with grief, is under observation at the H. A. Atoll Hospital.

Residents of Dhidhdoo report Kalhudhuffaru, which lies an eight-minute ride away from Dhidhdhoo via boat, is a popular picnic spot.

A couple of similar incidents have taken place on the island in the past, including the drowning of a foreign teacher in 2002.

Shifan is to be buried at Dhidhdhoo.