he National Search and Rescue Agency (BNPP) Class A Tanjung Pinang has asked local fishermen to help find John Cullen, 81, an Australian citizen who went missing after falling from a cruise he was travelling on from Fremantle, Australia, to Port Klang, Malaysia.
BNPP Tanjung Pinang head Budi Cahyadi told The Jakarta Post on Thursday that the Rescue Boat 209 belonging to the agency had carried out a search and rescue operation involving fishermen living around Numbing Island and other islands for six days.
“There is still no result, however. We have not yet found any signs that may lead to his whereabouts,” said Budi.
He added the BNPP would stop its search and rescue operation if it could not find Cullen by 6 p.m. local time on Friday. “We can open our investigation again if we find anything related to his whereabouts,” said Budi.
He further said no family members of the victim had contacted the BNPP to get an update on its search and rescue operation.
Cullen, a passenger of the Sun Princess cruise, slipped and fell into Bintan waters, Riau Islands, on Saturday afternoon when the cruise was traveling from Australia to Port Klang.
Budi said Sun Princess crew members had dispatched several lifeboats to search for the Australian. However, they could not find the victim. They later reported the incident to BNPP Tanjung Pinang.
“The Sun Princess decided to continue its trip to Port Klang that day,” said Budi. (ebf)
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