A 22 year old Mzuzu University (MZUNI) Student, Innocent Mlanda has died after drowning in Lake Malawi in Nkhata Bay district.

Nkhata Bay Police Publicist, Kondwani James Sunday said the deceased alongside with his Catholic faithfuls from the University, held a farewell party for their outgoing fourth year colleagues, at Msondozi beach Lodge in Chintheche.

“According to the leader of the group, Peter Machilika, the team arrived at the lodge at 11 am and conducted their programme successfully. Thereafter, the group opted to swim in the lake,” he said.

James said at around 5pm, when most members were getting out of the water, the deceased was seen drowning and was rescued and rushed to Chintheche Rural Hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

He said autopsy revealed that the deceased succumbed to suffocation.

Police has advised people who don’t know how to swim, not to go into deep areas of the lake.

Late Mlanda hailed from Mponela village in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Chakhaza in Dowa District.