A 17-year-old student from London has died while snorkelling in Lake Malawi during a school trip. The teenager, identified by Malawi Police Service as Eugene Enoch Kwon, was a pupil at Hampton School, an independent boys' school in Richmond upon Thames, south-west London.
Incident Details
The incident occurred on Tuesday, July 14, at Cape Maclear in Monkey Bay. Eugene was snorkelling with other students when he disappeared. An immediate search operation was launched, and divers located him underwater. He was rushed to Monkey Bay Community Hospital but sadly died.
Superintendent Patrick Mussa from the Eastern Region Police Headquarters of the Malawi Police Service confirmed the search and expressed condolences to the bereaved family. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
School Response
Hampton School confirmed the death of one of its pupils during the camping trip. A spokesperson said: "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."
Similar Tragedy
The tragedy comes just weeks after another London student, Umar Dumbuya, 18, died after entering the River Wye during a Duke of Edinburgh expedition in Powys, Wales, on June 30. Umar was a student at Leyton Sixth Form in east London. The college launched a GoFundMe page to support his family, describing him as a "much-loved student" remembered for his kindness and positive impact.
