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Identities of 4 missing divers confirmed [NSTTV]

MERSING: The identities of the four foreign divers who went missing while undergoing training at Pulau Tokong Sanggol here yesterday afternoon have been confirmed.

They are British national Adrian Peter and his 14-year-old son Nathan Renee, who is a citizen of the Netherlands, French woman Alexia Alexandre, 18, and Norwegian woman Kristine Grodem, 35, who is a dive master.

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said all of them are licensed and experienced divers.

"We are saddened by the report of the missing divers and a search and rescue (SAR) operation is being conducted in the islands off Mersing, especially near Pulau Tokong Sanggol. All of them are tourists and one of them is a diving coach.

"Three of the victims are student divers but this is not the first time they are diving. They all have experience and are currently undergoing upgrading certification training.

"Two of the missing victims are a father and son pair," said Onn Hafiz in a Press conference after monitoring the SAR operation at the forward operating base at the Mersing District Council public jetty.

Also present were Johor police chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat and Johor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director First Admiral Nurul Hizam Zakaria.

The SAR operation was continued at 7am involving 90 personnel from various agencies, including 30 divers and 18 assets.

Onn Hafiz also expressed his gratitude to the Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar for lending two dive boats to help in the operation.

It was reported that the MMEA's Johor Baru Maritime Rescue Sub Centre received information from the Putrajaya Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre regarding the incident at 2.35pm and a SAR operation was activated at 2.45 pm.

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