Search for boy who went missing in Malaysia dive called off after Brit dad says he drowned

9 April 2022, 08:04 | Updated: 9 April 2022, 14:05

The search for the 14-year-old boy is continuing
The search for the 14-year-old boy is continuing. Picture: Getty/Berita Haria

By Will Taylor

The rescue effort searching for a 14-year-old boy has been called off after his father said he drowned when he became too weak to stay above water.

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The British engineer, who went missing off the coast of Malaysia while diving was rescued but his son was not with him at the time.

Adrian Peter Chesters, 46, who works for Shell, was found early on Saturday in the water near Indonesia's border.

He was retrieved with Alexia Alexandra Molina, 18, a French national who had also gone missing during a group dive.

Dutch national Nathen Renze Chestersm Mr Chesters' son, was still missing but authorities have called off the search after his father said he had gone under the water.

Mr Chesters and Ms Molina are in a stable condition.

Read more: British-born father-of-two dies after van gets caught in deadly Australian floods

They had been diving in 50ft deep water with their Norwegian instructor, Kristine Grodem, on Wednesday.

Ms Grodem, who was rescued on Thursday, said all four of the divers had safely surfaced but drifted away from their boat and got separated by a strong current.

The boat's skipper has been detained as police investigate what happened, while diving off the coast of Mersing, in south-east Malaysia, has been suspended.

Two aircraft, nine boats and about 85 people are involved in the search, which is now concentrated south of where Mr Chesters and Ms Molina were found.

Fishermen have also stepped up to help.

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