JOHOR BARU, April 9 – Three foreign divers have been found safe and sound while another is believed to have died, four days after he was reported missing while diving at Pulau Tokong Sanggol, near Mersing.

Norwegian diver, Kristine Grodem, 35, also a diving coach, was found floating a day after the incident while Briton Adrian Peter Chesters, 46, and Alexia Alexandra Molina, 18, a Frenchwoman were found early this morning in Indonesian waters.

The director of Johor Maritime, First Maritime Admiral Nurul Hizam Zakaria, said the search and rescue operation was called off at 1.30pm today after three of the four missing divers were rescued.

He however said Adrian’s son Nathan Renze Chesters, 14, died based on his father’s statement about his son’s status due to extreme weakness and inability to survive.

“The Johor Baru Maritime Rescue Sub-Center (MRSC) has also informed Indonesian authorities to assist in the search for the last victim believed to have died and drifted into Indonesian waters,” it said in a statement this evening. .

Nurul Hizam said his agency thanked and appreciated all the agencies and parties involved in the search and rescue operation.

In the operation, 18 boats from various agencies including two boats of the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar apart two planes and two helicopters.

Over 90 officers and personnel from various agencies participated in the search, including Maritime Malaysia, Royal Malaysian Police, Maritime Police, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Royal Malaysian Navy, Camp Iskandar Mersing’s special service, the Fire and Rescue Department and the Civil Defense Force.

Meanwhile, Adrian and Alexia, who are being treated at a private hospital in Pasir Gudang, are believed to be stable.

Johor Datuk Onn’s Mentri Besar Hafiz Ghazi and Johor Datuk Police Chief Kamarul Zaman Mamat also visited the victims in the hospital.

“Thank goodness two more victims were found early this morning. A victim who was found earlier is also recovering from Mersing Hospital.

“The doctors are doing their best for them. We hope they recover quickly and we will continue to do our best and pray that the last victim will be found in good condition soon,” he told reporters here.

Onn Hafiz also said the state government would cover the cost of treatment for the three divers.

Meanwhile, the captain of the boat that took the three divers had been arrested on Wednesday after testing positive for methamphetamine. — Bernama