A nine year old boy drowned while swimming with friends at Colo-i-Suva yesterday.

Police Spokesperson, Inspector Atunaisa Sokomuri said the nine year old was part of a group that had gone for a swim at Colo-i-suva.

The alarm was raised by the mother of the nine year old boy when she found him missing and a search was conducted after which the body of the boy was found in one of the pools downstream.

He was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

The drowning toll now stands at 10 compared to 21 last year.