Map of Western Equatoria State. | Courtesy.

The body of a 10-year-old boy who drowned on Sunday in Maridi County of Western Equatoria State, has been recovered, a local official said.

Maridi County Commissioner Miri Alfred Matia said two children were first carried away by water current after they attempted to wash their legs in the Maridi River, before one of them was rescued.

The kids had been sent to the market to sell banana and lemon fruits, according to Commissioner Matia.

“It was yesterday (Sunday) morning when their parents send them with some bananas and lemons to the market, and then on their way through the bridge, they decided to go wash their hands and their legs,” ne narrated to Eye Radio.

He said one of the unnamed children was rescued by the locals but the other went missing. His body was recovered hours later after a search under a bridge.

“That is when the incident happened. One of the children was saved. The other, they tried their level best and got the baby out around noon time and took him to the hospital and the hospital gave him to the parents and he was taken home.”