Mersing: The search and rescue (SAR) operation for the fourth missing scuba diver was halted temporarily at 1.30pm today and will now be taken over by the Indonesian authorities.
Three other divers who went missing at the same time as Dutch national Nathen Rezhe Chesters, 14, during a diving activity in the waters off Pulau Tokong Sanggol on Wednesday have since been found safe.
Among the three was Nathen's father Adrian Peter Chesters, 46. Local fishermen found Adrian and French national Alexia Alexandra Molina, 18, at about 1am in Pengerang near Indonesian waters.
On Thursday, Norwegian dive instructor Kristine Grodem, 35, was found safe 30 nautical miles from where the four had gone missing and was rescued by crew members of a tugboat en route from Indonesia to Thailand.
Mersing District Police Chief, Superintendent Cyril Edward Nuing said initial information and investigation found that the position of the victims found safe early this morning was some 16 nautical miles north of Bintan Island, Indonesia, and some 100km from their last known location.
He said based on the latest development, they believe Nathen was no longer in Malaysian waters.
"From the information of the two victims this morning, they were actually rescued in Indonesian waters at a position of 16 nautical miles north of Bintan Island, Indonesia.
"Based on this information, with the current conditions, we think Nathan is drifting in Indonesian waters.
"The SAR has been temporarily stopped at 1.30pm and has been taken over by the Indonesian authorities to search their waters," he said at a press conference at the Mersing District Council Public Jetty Carilamat Forward Base, here today.
Also present was Mersing Maritime Zone Director, Maritime Commander Khairul Nizam Misran.
"Right now we don't know what Nathen's condition is but we designate him as being still alive because there is no body. We designate him as a missing person," Cyril said.