The body of 11-year-old Muhammad Hairil Effendi was discovered in the waters off East Coast Park on the night of 30 August, police confirmed the following day.
Hairil, a child with special needs who mostly did not speak, had been reported missing on 29 August. He was last seen in Marine Terrace, near Block 29 Marine Crescent, at around 11.05am.
Authorities had launched a public appeal for information later that night. A missing person poster was widely circulated across social media platforms, prompting an outpouring of concern and efforts by members of the public to assist in the search.
In a statement released just after midnight on 31 August, the police said they had received a call for assistance at East Coast Park at 9.55pm on 30 August. When officers arrived, they found a boy floating in the sea.
Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officers retrieved the body and brought it ashore. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
At about 12.40am on 31 August, witnesses observed a body being loaded on a stretcher into a police van.
Later that day, police confirmed that the deceased was identified as Muhammad Hairil Effendi by his next-of-kin.
In a statement, the police said that preliminary investigations do not suggest foul play.
They also issued a public advisory, stating: “Out of respect for the family, members of the public are advised not to share any videos or images of the deceased,” following the emergence of photos and videos of the incident on social media.
Hairil’s mother, who requested to be identified only as Ms Ain, had earlier told The Straits Times that her son had autism and was largely non-verbal.
The case drew widespread attention, with community members and volunteers helping to spread the word and search the surrounding areas.
Reunite Missing Children, a Facebook page dedicated to locating missing minors, played a key role in raising awareness. In an update following the discovery, the page posted:
“With heavy hearts, we share that Muhammad Hairil Bin Muhammad Effendi, 11 years old, a special child with autism, has sadly passed away. From the moment he went missing, so many of you reached out, spread the word, searched, and gave your time and effort. We are deeply grateful to the friends, neighbours, volunteers, and the police who did everything possible.
Thank you all for your prayers, kindness, and support during this difficult time. Out of respect for Hairil and his family, we appeal to members of the public not to circulate any videos or images.”
The police have not disclosed further details regarding how the boy might have entered the water.
Investigations are ongoing, but authorities reiterated that no foul play is suspected at this stage.
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