Eight girl students drown in China after funeral

A swimming expedition in southern China turned out to be a tragedy with eight girls of a group getting drowned.

A swimming expedition for a group of students in southern China, that was meant to offer some relaxation, following a funeral turned to tragedy when eight teenaged girls drowned, state press said on Thursday.

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Thirty-two students from Wulie primary school in Hainan province snuck out of class to attend the funeral of a classmate's grandparent on Wednesday. Later, on their way back, they went for a swim in a local river, Xinhua news agency said.

Ten girls waded through the river but were swept away by the current, Xinhua said.

Local fisherman rescued two of the girls but the others, aged from 13 to 15, drowned, Xinhua reported.