A 9 year old student of Waidalice, Tailevu drowned while swimming with his friends yesterday.

Assistant Police Spokesperson, Inspector Atunaisa Sokomuri said the class four student was swimming in the Waicalice river with two of his friends when he went missing.

He was found a few meters away and was rushed to the Korovou hospital where doctors pronounced him dead.

The drowning toll for this year is now nine compared to 15 during the same period last year.