The ecstasy of four friends taking a dip at a river in Jelebu, about 34km from here ended in agony when one of them was swept away by strong currents and drowned.

Five-year-old orang asli, Norrieyanie a/p Yan, drowned in the Sungai Kenaboi about 3.20pm yesterday.

Jelebu police chief DSP Othman Basri said the victim, together with her three friends, aged between six and seven went for a swim near the Sungai Kenaboi bridge at 2.50pm.

About 30 minutes later, he said, Norrieyanie was swept away by swift currents.

"Her friends alerted the villagers and they carried out a search for the missing girl.

"The body was found at the Kampung Chennah bridge about two kilometres away at 3.20pm," he said in a statement here on Thursday.

Jelebu Fire and Rescue Department chief, Mohd Fazzil Mohd Yunus said there was a heavy drizzle when the four children were swimming and the river currents were quite swift. -- Bernama