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Coast Guard: Search operation off Malaysia and Indonesia
Photo: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency/AP
They were searched for for three days, and now two of the three divers from Europe missing off Malaysia have been rescued from the sea.
A 46-year-old Briton and an 18-year-old French woman were discovered by fishermen on Saturday night and taken to safety, the police said.
Her condition is reportedly stable.
They are being treated in a private hospital in the city of Pasir Gudang.
A 14-year-old with Dutch nationality – the son of the rescued Briton – is still being sought.
"He is still missing but his father has confirmed he is dead," said Nurul Hizam Zakaria of the Malaysian Coast Guard (MMEA).
Because the group was carried far in the South China Sea, the search is now focused on Indonesian waters, said Cyril Edward Nuing, Mersing District Police Chief.
The tourists, together with their Norwegian diving instructor, left on Wednesday for a diving trip off the island of Pulau Tokong Sanggol in the state of Johor, about nine nautical miles (16.6 kilometers) from the mainland.
When they failed to return to the boat, authorities launched a search operation from the water and from the air.
Diving instructor rescued on Thursday
The 35-year-old diving instructor, who was also initially missing, was found in good condition on Thursday after 20 hours in the water – but 30 nautical miles from the site of the dive.
According to their statements, the four were back on the water surface when they were driven apart by strong currents.
The two rescued were discovered 70 nautical miles from the dive site north of the Indonesian island of Bintan in the Riau archipelago.
"Based on our information, we believe that the search efforts should focus on Indonesian waters," said police chief Niung, referring to the missing youth.
The operation in Malaysia will be temporarily suspended.
The colleagues in the neighboring country were informed and would continue the search from there.
All merchant ships and fishing boats in the region have been asked to keep an eye out for the boy.
captain arrested
From the start, the authorities had shown confidence that the missing could be rescued.
They were not only experienced divers, but also equipped with diving equipment such as fins and vests as well as training material, it said.
All had reportedly been training for Advanced Open Water Diver certification.
The captain of the boat that took the group out to sea had sounded the alarm on Wednesday after the group failed to return.
However, he has since been arrested because authorities say he tested positive for drugs.
The Southeast Asian country of Malaysia is popular with divers from all over the world.
It is known for its pristine coral reefs and colorful marine life.
wit/dpa