A 17-year-old student from a London school tragically passed away while snorkeling on a trip to Malawi. Identified as Eugene Enoch Kwon by the Malawi Police Service (MPS), he was a student at Hampton School in south-west London.
The incident occurred when students from the school were snorkeling in Lake Malawi in Cape Maclear, Monkey Bay. Eugene went missing during the activity and was later discovered underwater by divers after an extensive search. Despite being rushed to Monkey Bay Community Hospital for treatment, he succumbed to suffocation from drowning.
Superintendent Patrick Mussa from the Malawi Police Service’s Eastern Region Police Headquarters mentioned that Eugene’s disappearance prompted an immediate search operation, leading to the discovery of his body underwater. The police extended condolences to the grieving family, with investigations ongoing.
Hampton School, a private boys’ school in Richmond upon Thames, confirmed the tragic loss of one of its students during the camping trip. A spokesperson expressed heartfelt sympathies to Eugene’s family and friends during this challenging time, emphasizing support for the affected individuals within the school community.
This unfortunate incident follows the recent death of another student, Umar Dumbuya, from London, who passed away while on a Duke of Edinburgh trip to Wales. Umar, an 18-year-old student at Leyton Sixth Form in east London, lost his life on June 30 after entering the River Wye during the expedition. The college initiated a GoFundMe campaign to assist his loved ones.
Described as kind and impactful, Umar’s untimely demise has deeply affected those who knew him, leaving a significant void in their hearts.