Search for jet ski judge continues

Dicky Christanto ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Denpasar   |  Thu, 10/30/2008 10:34 AM  |  Bali

Bali Search and Rescue (SAR) team chief Ketut Parwa said Wednesday that a search for a missing official at the recent Asian Beach Games (ABG) had so far produced no results.

However, Parwa said he would keep searching for Jeremy Holland, a Briton who served as a jet ski race judge during the inaugural beach games.

"I must admit that up to this date our search has turned up nothing but we will continue the search," Parwa told The Jakarta Post.

He said the SAR team had expanded its search to waters off Lombok Strait and Tanah Lot.

"Just to anticipate every possibility, as we believe Jeremy could have been carried away by a strong current as he struggled to find his way home," he said.

He said the SAR team had also coordinated with the water police, the Marines, the Air Force and the Army in conducting the search.

"At least five helicopters and two boats were deployed to search for Jeremy when he was reported missing," said Parwa.

"We're still using the boats and two helicopters to find him."

Holland was reported missing Friday after taking a ride on a jet ski between competition schedules.

He had gone out on a jet ski with a number of other judges to scout the jet ski race course, which ran from Tanjung Benoa in Nusa Dua to Nusa Lembongan.

The first-ever ABG was held from Oct. 18 to Oct. 26 and was participated by at least 3,000 athletes and officials from 43 countries.

Bali Water Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Oka Sara said he had fully cooperated with SAR team in the search.

"I have ordered my subordinates to continue assisting the SAR team no matter what happens," he said.

British consul to Denpasar Mark Wilson declined to comment on the case when he was contacted Wednesday.

"I'm not authorized to issue any statement regarding this incident," he said.

kompas.com reported Saturday that Holland was actually stranded on an unknown island and that one of his colleagues, Grace, said she had been able to contact Jeremy on his cell phone.

"He said to me that he was thirsty," she said as quoted by the web site.

Commenting on the report, Parwa said he had tried but failed to contact Holland on his cell phone.

"Up to this point, Jeremy's cell phone has been unreachable," he said.

"Besides, if Jeremy had the chance to call, why did he call his friend and not us?"

Parwa said the team had also searched small islands and waters between Tanjung Benoa and Nusa Lembongan but had found nothing.

He said that according to regulations, a search for a missing person would last seven-day starting from the time the person was reported missing.

"But we will wait and see about that as we are now still focused on finding him," he said.

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