Fire dept helicopter, jetski and divers join operation for missing Egyptian

The Fire and Rescue Department has boosted its search-and-rescue team searching for the missing Egyptian who fell off the balcony of a chalet here three days ago.

A helicopter, a jetski and a team of divers from the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) have been added to the operations to search for Yahya Yousry Mohamad Al-Sayid, 27, who was reported missing at about 4pm.

"The operation was activated at 7.30am with a boat from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency as well as a marine police boat. A fire department jetski and helicopter are due to arrive at 1pm. Navy divers are also assisting the search for the victim," he said.

The air search will cover a three nautical mile area (10km), he added.

On Tuesday, search efforts had to be confined to coastal areas due to strong winds which at times reached 50km an hour and waves of 3.5 metres which made boat maneuvers difficult.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued here, Berjaya Hotels & Resorts said Yahya Yousry who arrived at the hotel on Monday with his wife for a holiday was supposed to check out Tuesday.

Based on information from his wife, the statement said the victim was in the chalet when he suddenly fell into the sea and was believed to have been swept away by the strong currents.

The hotel management said several jetskis which were mobilised to search for the victim before the search-and-rescue team arrived failed to find him.

The hotel is working with the rescue team by providing search equipment as well as lodging and food to the victim's wife during the operations. -- BERNAMA