All the 6 rescue divers reportedly lost their lives while searching for a missing young man in the state of Selangor.

The divers were caught in a strong whirlpool during the operation in Puchong, a town on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, said Sepang district police chief Assistant Commissioner Abdul Aziz Ali.

"Suddenly a strong current occurred in the area, causing all victims to spin in the water while all their equipment came off," he said. 

The divers struggled in the water for about 30 minutes while other personnel tried to rescue them. However, all of them were unconscious when they were pulled out of the water.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department chief Azmi Osman said cardiopulmonary resuscitation was administered by a medical team on the victims but failed. "All six were pronounced dead," he said.

The divers have been identified as Mohd Fatah Hashim, 34, Izatul Akma Wan Ibrahim, 32, Mazlan Omarbaki, 25, and Yahya Ali, 24, from the Water Rescue Unit of the Port Klang Fire and Rescue station.

The other two victims, identified as Adnan Othman, 33, and Muhammad Hifdzul Malik Shaari, 25, were members of the Water Rescue Unit from the Shah Alam Fire and Rescue station. (ILKHA)