Journalist recalls 10-day search for Irish teenager that ended in tragedy

KUALA LUMPUR: The 10-day search for Irish teenager Nora Anne Quoirin remains etched in the memory of Harian Metro journalist Raja Noraina Raja Rahim.

Recalling the incident, Raja Noraina, 42, said the media received news of the disappearance of the 15-year-old with special needs on Aug 4, 2019.

We initially thought it was an ordinary missing-person case and that she would be found, but the next day, police launched a search-and-rescue (SAR) operation around the resort in Pantai, Negri Sembilan, where Nora Anne was last seen with her family.

"My fellow journalists and I gathered at the scene and tried to approach her parents, but they were not ready to meet the media.

"We then moved to the SAR operations centre set up at the Pantai police station, where the Negri Sembilan police chief held a press conference," she said.

Raja Noraina said reporting continued until late that night, with the media leaving after the SAR operation was suspended due to darkness.

The operation resumed the following day, led by police and supported by its Air Unit, K9 Unit, General Operations Force, Civil Defence Force, VAT 69 commando unit, Senoi Praaq unit, local villagers and drones.

"Media personnel gathered at the site early every morning and watched search teams come and go continuously until late at night," she said.

"Police held daily press conferences to provide updates on the operation. After several days of media gathering at the site, Nora Anne's parents finally agreed to be interviewed.

"They looked exhausted and grief-stricken and hoped their daughter would be found safe," she said.

One experience that has stayed with her was being invited to join the search for the teenager.

"We saw first-hand how rescue teams searched around the resort, ventured into the forest, along riverbanks and into Orang Asli villages.

"Some journalists, including my colleagues, followed the search until late at night. During the operation, several individuals claiming to be bomoh (traditional healers) also joined the search, claiming to know Nora Anne's whereabouts," she said.

She also recalled working on Hari Raya Aidiladha, which coincided with the seventh day of the search.

"Although more than a week had passed and hopes of finding Nora Anne were fading, the SAR operation continued. The rescue teams remained determined and did not give up.

"However, it was heartbreaking when Nora Anne was found dead on the 10th day of the search.

"Her body underwent a post-mortem that night and was claimed by her family early the following morning," she said.

Nora Anne's family holiday in Malaysia, which was supposed to be a cherished memory, turned tragic when her body was found near the resort they were staying at.

She was reported missing on Aug 4, 2019, a day after her family checked into the resort for a two-week holiday.

Her body was found by a volunteer search team near a stream in a ravine after 10 days of searching.