A 17-year-old student from London's Hampton School has died while snorkelling in Lake Malawi during a school expedition. The incident occurred on Tuesday, July 14, at Cape Maclear, Monkey Bay, when Eugene Enoch Kwon disappeared beneath the water's surface.
Search and recovery
Following an extensive search, divers located the teenager underwater. He was rushed to Monkey Bay Community Hospital but sadly passed away, according to police reports cited by the Mirror. Superintendent Patrick Mussa of the Malawi Police Service's Eastern Region Headquarters confirmed that an immediate search operation was launched after Eugene's disappearance.
"After an extensive search, divers located him underwater," Mussa said. "Police in the Eastern Region have since expressed their condolences to the bereaved family, while investigations into the incident continue."
School community in mourning
Hampton School, an independent boys' school in Richmond upon Thames, south-west London, confirmed the death of one of its pupils during the camping expedition, as reported by the Daily Star. A school spokesperson told the BBC: "Our thoughts, love and deepest sympathies are with the pupil's family and loved ones at this unimaginably difficult time. At present, our focus is supporting the pupil's family and everyone affected within our school community."
Recent similar tragedy
The incident comes just weeks after another London student died during a Duke of Edinburgh expedition in Wales. On June 30, 18-year-old Umar Dumbuya, a pupil at Leyton Sixth Form College in east London, entered the River Wye in Powys and disappeared. Emergency services responded but he could not be saved.
Umar's college established a GoFundMe page to support his family and friends. Staff wrote: "It is with profound sadness that we share the heartbreaking loss of a much-loved student who tragically passed away in a sudden accident. Umar will be remembered for his kindness, warmth, and the positive impact he had on his family, friends, classmates, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing them. Umar's loss has left an immeasurable void in the hearts of all who loved them."
