A British man and French woman who disappeared while diving off the coast of Malaysia have been found after drifting at sea for more than two days – but the man has told authorities his son died.
Fishermen spotted Adrian Peter Chesters, 46, and Alexia Alexandra Molina, 18, at around 1am on Friday – a considerable distance south from where they had disappeared.
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A police chief holds photos of Mr Chesters and Alexia Alexandra Molina after they were found drifting at sea
“Both indiuals… are reported to be in stable condition,” said Mersing district police chief Cyril Edward Nuing.
Mr Chesters said his 14-year-old son, Nathan Renze Chesters, had died at sea “as he was too weak and could not survive”, according to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.
His body has not yet been recovered and Indonesian authorities have now taken over the search.
“We believe there is a high likelihood that he is no longer in Malaysian waters based on the movement of sea currents, as well as the time and location where the other victims were found,” Mr Nuing said.
Mr Chesters, his son, and Ms Molina were among four people who went missing on Wednesday on a training dive near Tokong Sanggol, a small island off the southeastern town of Mersing.
The group’s instructor, Kristine Grodem, 35, from Norway, was rescued on Thursday.
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Kristine Grodem, 35, has been rescued. Pic: AP
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Boats taking part in the search and rescue operation. Pic: AP
Ms Grodem told officials the group surfaced about an hour into their dive, but could not find their boat.
She was later separated from the others after being caught in strong currents.
Ms Grodem, who was rescued by a tugboat and airlifted to hospital, said she was training the other three, who were hoping to obtain advanced diving licences.
The boat operator who took them to the dive site was held after testing positive for drugs and has been detained for further investigation.
