A local youth rescued two children who had drifted 250 feet from the northern shore of Maalhos island in Baa Atoll from drowning, on Sunday.
The incident occurred at approximately 1700hours while the two boys, 5 and 11 years of age, were swimming along with a group of children.
According to a statement given by an official from the council of Maalhos to local media Mihaaru, the area was known to harbour strong currents that may drag weak swimmers from the lagoon out into the open sea.
The official revealed that the struggling children were spotted by a youth who subsequently swam out to rescue them. Reportedly, the current was strong enough that it caused some delays in the young rescuer reaching the children.
"Until the youth reached the children, the older child had prevented the younger one from drowning. After the rescuer reached the children, it was the young person who held the children back from drowning," said the official.
The children were finally taken to safety with the help of a dinghy boat.
Reportedly, neither child suffered any major injuries.
Sign In