A 24-year-old Bartender of Suva drowned while swimming with his friends in Deuba yesterday.

Police said the bartender was drinking with friends from Saturday night until Sunday morning at the beach.

His body was located a few metres away.

Meanwhile, four youths from Wainibuka are in police custody for allegedly hacking one of their friends with a knife yesterday.

The youth is fighting for his life at the Lautoka hospital.

The group was drinking mentholated spirit when an argument developed which resulted in the hacking.