MALAYSIA (AFP) – The mother of a French diver missing off Malaysia said yesterday she is “hoping for the best” as search teams hunted for the teenager and two other Europeans for a third day.
The trio and their instructor disappeared on Wednesday after going diving off a southern island. The Norwegian instructor, 35-year-old Kristine Grodem, was rescued alive on Thursday after drifting for miles, and was admitted to hospital in a stable condition.
Officials have expressed hope the others will be found alive, as they had surfaced from a dive before they went missing and have substantial experience. Esther Molina, the mother of French 18-year-old Alexia Alexandra Molina, also struck an optimistic note.
“We hear from experienced divers that the situation is positive, they’re above water, hopefully they’re together still,” she told AFP from the coastal town of Mersing, the base for search operations.
“We are hoping for the best. She’s a strong girl.”
The 57-year-old, who lives in Malaysia with her family, added authorities had been “efficient, we’ve been kept updated about the status of the search”.
The other two missing divers are British man Adrian Peter Chesters, 46, and his 14-year-old son Nathan Renze Chesters, who is a Dutch citizen.
The search, which includes 10 boats, three helicopters and dozens of officials, resumed in the early hours, said senior police official Cyril Edward Nuing.
“Until now, we have not received new sightings pertaining to the three missing divers,” he told a press conference.
Nuing added he still had “strong hope that the three divers can be recovered alive” given they are experienced divers.
