Langkawi district police chief Shariman Ashari said the dead were identified as R Yuvaaraj, 22, and his brother, R Ravishangkar, 26, from Bukit Mertajam.

The brothers, along with their two other male friends, aged 24 and 25, had travelled to Langkawi for a holiday on Friday.

They had gone to the beach to swim at around 7pm.

The two brothers went swimming with a 25-year-old friend while their other friend did not go into the sea.

A large wave is said to have pulled all the victims into a deeper area, causing the three victims to panic and call for help.

The victims’ friend managed to swim to the beach and get help from members of the Malaysian Civil Defence (APM) personnel on duty at the beach. However, the other two could not save themselves.

Yuvaaraj’s body was recovered at 9.35pm and that of his brother at 12.40am. Their remains were sent to the Sultanah Maliha Hospital.