Joyful laughter turned into screams of terror when a 21-year-old man, Tshililo Muelelwa, who was swimming in a stream at Mpheni, drowned on Sunday.

Tshililo and a friend went to the stream to swim. The swimming experience, however, turned into a nightmare. His friend tried to save his life, but the water was too deep and murky. He then decided to run to the settlement to attract the attention of fellow community members.

The police were called, but when they arrived at the scene, it was already dark and Tshililo was nowhere to be found.

Community and family members slept at the stream until police divers arrived on Monday morning. They later retrieved his body

Insp Kedibone Mabatha, communications officer of the Waterval SAPS, said the police were investigating the incident. He appealed to children not to play alongside streams or on river banks, or to swim without the supervision of older people.

With the very hot weather currently being experienced around the province, the police say they expect that more children will try to cool down by going for a swim.

Family representatives said they were still shocked about the incident. He will be buried at the Mpheni cemetery next Saturday (28/9).