The girl was part of a group of seven who were near some rocks in the water.
At first, Miss Rita Zuhaida thought the girl was joking because there were some men in their mid-20s who were nearer the girl but were not responding to her shouts.
When the rest of the girl's group started to flail their arms in the water, she knew she had to do something.
She nudged her nephew to help as he was the more experienced swimmer, having learnt to swim when he was five.
He was the first to help those struggling in the water, followed closely by his aunt and Miss Siti.
As Miss Rita Zuhaida and Miss Siti were both wearing long-sleeved shirts, pants and headscarves, it was difficult for them to move in the water.
But Miss Siti, a final-year student at Monash University in Kuala Lumpur, said she did not think twice about rescuing the group.
"When I saw their faces, I knew I had to help. Instinct kicked in," she said.
Miss Rita Zuhaida, who volunteers with Mendaki and other welfare organisations, also said she has not slept well since. The traumatic incident keeps replaying in her head. She was devastated to find out later that the body of Richard Rajagopal, 17, had been recovered.
Her father, Mr Mohd Nazeer Mohd Russull, 72, also keeps thinking about the drowning incident. Mr Mohd Nazeer, who taught his children how to swim when they were young, has always told them it is dangerous to help a drowning person.
"They should let others, who are more capable, to do it if they are not confident," he said.
"But I am proud that they risked their lives to save others."
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