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Family believes West Java governor’s missing son has died
West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil's family has announced the death of his eldest son who has been reported missing since May 26 after he was swept away by strong currents while swimming in the Aare River in Bern, Switzerland.
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Ridwan Kamil (Antara/Indrianto Eko Suwarso)
W
est Java Governor Ridwan Kamil’s family has announced the death of his eldest son Emmeril “Eril” Khan Mumtadz who has been reported missing since May 26 after he was swept away by strong currents while swimming in the Aare River in Bern, Switzerland.
Ridwan’s older brother Erwin Muniruzaman told a press conference that despite continued efforts to find Eril, Ridwan Kamil and the family now believed their son had died.
“[My brother and his wife] said that they have accepted and believe that Emmeril Kahn Mumtadz ... had died,” Erwin said in the televised press conference on Friday.
Ridwan, his wife Atalia Praratya and daughter Zara have decided to return home.
Posting a farewell bid to her son on her Instagram account, Atalia wrote that she had returned to Indonesia and that she let him go in the protection of Allah, praying that Eril would receive never-ending love, blessings and happiness.
“On the bank of this beautiful Aare river, mom lets you go for us to meet again, sooner or later. As the mayor [of Bern] said ‘the city of Bern will forever be deeply connected to us…’. My best prayers will be contained in every single one of my breaths,” Atalia posted on Thursday.
As of Thursday local time, the search for Eril continues on the Aare river of Bern by land, boat and aerial patrols by drone, although divers were not dispatched due to the strong current of the river.
