06/27/2023

MIE – A junior high school boy died from drowning while playing in a river in Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture. The police are investigating the possibility that he drowned while trying to save his younger sister.

13-year old boy drowns while trying to save his sister in a river in Mie (ANN)

At around 3:30 p.m. on the 25th, Shoma Watanabe, 13-years old, had disappeared while playing in a river in Ikakuwa-cho, Yokkaichi City. His friend noticed him disappearing after he jumped into the river.

Fifteen minutes later, firefighters found Watanabe at the bottom of the river at a depth of about 1.5 meters, and he was transported to the hospital but died due to cardiopulmonary arrest.

According to the police, the boy, his sister, and some classmates came to the river to play together.

Shoma’s sister was the first one to drown and his brother came to rescue her. However, Shoma might have been taken away by the strong current and unfortunately drowned. The sister however, managed to survive and was able to get back to the surface.

It is possible that Shoma drowned while trying to save his sister, and the police are investigating the details.

News Source: Japan Today; ANN News