Freetown, 5th October 2026 – An 11-year-old boy identified as Hassan has reportedly drowned at Whitestone, down the river, while attempting to rescue a teammate who was in danger of drowning.
According to community reports, the incident occurred over the weekend. Hassan was said to be with his teammates in the Whitestone area, a popular riverside and coastal community along the Aberdeen-White Stone axis known for local fishing, swimming and football activities for children.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that one of the boys got into difficulty in the water. Hassan reportedly jumped in to save him. The rescue attempt, however, ended in tragedy when Hassan himself was overwhelmed.
Local sources say the other child survived, but Hassan did not.
His death has thrown his family, friends, teammates and the wider Whitestone community into deep mourning. Hassan has been described by residents as a brave and selfless young boy who lost his life in an act of heroism.
The incident has once again highlighted growing concerns over water safety for children in Freetown’s coastal communities. With many children swimming in rivers and the sea without life jackets, supervision or swimming training, cases of drowning remain frequent, particularly during weekends.
Community elders are calling on parents and local authorities to increase supervision around waterways and to provide basic swimming and water safety education for children.
Police and community stakeholders are yet to issue an official statement on the incident. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family.
May his soul rest in perfect peace.
Source: 24 Hours Bloggers
