Udupi : A second year Mechanical student, of the National Institute of Technology-Karnataka (NIT-K), Surathkal, drowned in the sea at St. Mary’s Island, near Malpe, Udupi, on Sunday.

According to the Malpe police, Prasad Babu (19) and eight of his friends went to St. Mary’s Island off Malpe Beach around 1 p.m. After a photo session with his friends, Prasad Babu entered the sea waters along with a few other friends. Prasad Babu, who is said to have hit a boulder in the sea waters, found it difficult to come out of the waters. Efforts to pull out Prasad Babu also failed.

Prasad was the only son for his parents. Members of the Coast Guard near the beach rushed to his rescue but they could only retrieve the body around 3 p.m., the police said.

Malpe police registered a case.