Holiday turns tragic as Nora Anne found dead

Nora Anne (Bernama)

Kuala Lumpur: What was supposed to have been a memorable holiday in exotic Malaysia turned tragic when special needs Franco-Irish teenager Nora Anne Quoirin was found dead after she went missing from an ecotourism resort where she and her family were staying.

The 15-year-old was reported missing by her family on the morning of Aug 4, a day after the family checked in for a two-week vacation at The Dusun resort in Pantai, Seremban, about 60 kilometres south of this Malaysian capital city.

The nude body of Nora Anne was found near a small stream in a valley about two kilometres from the resort at 1.57 pm today, 10 days after she was reported missing, by a team of hikers who had volunteered to join the search-and-rescue operation.

The body was brought to the Forensics Department at the Tuanku Jaafar Hospital in Seremban where her family confirmed that it was Nora Anne’s.

The search team had covered the location on and off earlier but had not seen the body there.

Chronology of Nora Anne Quoirin’s disappearance

Following is the chronology of events relating to the disappearance of Irish teenager Nora Anne Quoirin, 15, from a resort in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan:

Aug. 3, 2019 – Nora Anne Quoirin arrives at The Dusun Pantai Hill Resort in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan with her family for a holiday.

Aug. 4, 2019 – The teenager, who has a learning disability, is found missing by her family members at 8 am.

Aug. 4, 2019 – Police receive information about the victim’s disappearance from the resort’s owners after being alerted to the situation by the family.

Aug. 4, 2019 – A search and rescue (SAR) mission is conducted by firemen and police personnel from the K9 Tracker Dog Unit of the Negeri Sembilan Police Contingent.

Aug. 5, 2019 – Authorities including the police and members of the Malaysian Volunteer Corps (Rela) maintain tight security control at the resort area where Nora Anne was reported missing.

Aug. 5, 2019 – The police’s Air Wing Unit also joins in the SAR operation.

Aug. 5, 2019 – Air surveillance is carried out around Gunung Berembun (Mount Berembun) and along the riverbank of Sungai Berembun.

Aug. 5, 2019 – A platoon from the General Operations Force’s (GOF) 4th Batallion in Cheras is also deployed to the location to assist with the search.

Aug. 6, 2019 – The SAR operation enters the third day, with the participation of 159 personnel from various security agencies.

Aug. 7, 2019 – Police record statements from 20 witnesses including the victim’s family members to assist in the investigation.

Aug. 7, 2019 – The SAR operation which enters its fourth day, is carried out with 206 personnel from various security agencies.

Aug. 8, 2019 – A total of 247 personnel from various security agencies actively search for the victim.

Aug. 8, 2019 – Nora Anne’s SAR operation is led by the police’s special Senoi Praaq Unit (made up of indigenous people).

Aug. 8, 2019 – The services of a GOF helicopter with advanced technology is used to help locate Nora Anne.

Aug. 8, 2019 – A recording of Nora Anne’s mother calling out to her in an affectionate manner is played through a loudspeaker during the operation.

Aug. 9, 2019 – The SAR operation enters its sixth day, and is reinforced with the presence of two officers and 21 personnel from the police’s elite VAT 69 Commando unit

Aug. 9, 2019 – Nine drones are brought in to help with the SAR operation.

Aug. 9, 2019 – Residents of Pantai, Negeri Sembilan hold a Solat Hajat (special prayers) at the Pantai Kariah Mosque after Friday prayers seeking divine intervention to aid the search efforts.

Aug. 10, 2019 – On the seventh day of SAR operations, the search radius was reduced from 6 km to 4 km from the scene.

Aug. 10, 2019 – Local Orang Asli (indigenous people) offer to help find Nora Anne using traditional methods based on their beliefs.

Aug. 10, 2019 – Nora Anne’s family express appreciation to members of the SAR operation who are sacrificing their Aidiladha celebration to look for the missing teen.

Aug. 11, 2019 – On the eighth day of SAR operations, Negeri Sembilan Police chief Datuk Mohamad Mat Yusop opens a special hotline ‘0111-2285058’ to allow members of the public to channel any information they know regarding the case.

Aug. 11, 2019 – A volunteer group of hikers joins in the SAR operation.

Aug. 12, 2019 – The SAR operation enters its ninth day, with a strength of 348 personnel from various security agencies.

Aug. 12, 2019 – Nora Anne’s family offers a reward of RM50,000 to anyone who can provide information about the whereabouts of the missing teen.

Aug. 12, 2019 – Police from Ireland, England, and France come down to help with the SAR operation.

Aug. 12, 2019 – A group of five Islamic medical practitioners volunteer to assist in the search.

Aug. 12, 2019 – Media practitioners are invited to join in the SAR operation for the very first time.

Aug. 13, 2019 – On the tenth day of the SAR operation, a volunteer hikers team who are part of the operation find the body of a Caucasian woman at 1.57 pm, about 2.5 km from The Dusun Pantai Hill resort .

Aug. 13, 2019 (8.55 pm): Police confirm the body found is of Nora Anne after positive identification by her family members.

BERNAMA