Two tragic drowning incidents involving sixth-grade students have stirred emotions within local communities in Vietnam, as students sought leisure time by the water.
On March 1, 2025, it was confirmed by the leadership of Phan Đình Phùng Middle School, located in the Chư Kbô district of Đắk Lắk province, two of their students, N.H.A. and T.G.L., drowned during their afternoon swim at Trường Hà Dam on February 27. This unfortunate incident began when a group of five students decided to spend their time cooling off by the water. Four of these students entered the dam to swim, leaving one student on the shore.
Sadly, N.H.A. and T.G.L. slipped and fell victim to the swirling waters, leading to their desperate cries for help as they struggled to stay afloat. Alarmed by the commotion, the other students quickly left the dam and rushed to inform their families. Consequently, family members notified the local authorities for urgent assistance.
Rescue efforts commenced shortly after the student’s relatives alerted the authorities. Throughout the evening of February 27, teams composed of local officials and community members searched tirelessly to recover the boys. Their bodies were eventually discovered and retrieved from the water later the same night. Consequently, the school has expressed their deepest condolences and support to the families of the deceased students.
Meanwhile, another heartbreaking incident unfolded on February 28, involving other sixth-grade students by the Chu River, flowing through the Xuân Tín commune of Thanh Hóa province. Here, on the afternoon of February 27, around 2 p.m., five or six sixth-grade students ventured out to the riverbank for some recreation. Unfortunately, Đ.N.Q. decided to venture off to swim, triggering dire consequences.
While trying to swim, Đ.N.Q. lost his footing and fell helplessly back as he struggled to regain control. Witnessing his distress, his classmate, T.V.Q., bravely leaped in to save him but was quickly overpowered by the deep and swift currents, resulting in both boys vanishing beneath the water.
Authorities were alerted and initiated extensive search operations for the missing boys. By the morning of February 28, at around 8:30 AM, the search team located Đ.N.Q.'s body approximately 200 meters downstream. Later, at about 1 PM, T.V.Q.'s body was also recovered, marking the tragic conclusion to the second incident of drowning. Following the recovery, officials handled the necessary procedures and returned the bodies to the grieving families for burial.
The local community has been shaken by these tragic losses as residents begin to reflect on the importance of water safety and supervision among children. Leaders from Phan Đình Phùng Middle School have taken immediate steps to support affected families through condolences and counseling. Questions have also been raised about potential safety measures to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
The heart-wrenching incidents serve as stark reminders of the importance of maintaining vigilant supervision over children when engaging with water activities. Schools and local authorities alike are now tasked with the responsibility of enhancing safety awareness, ensuring tragic occurrences like this don’t repeat script. Everyone feels the heavy weight of loss as shock and sorrow resonate throughout the schools and families affected.