New Zealander missing while swimming near anchored yacht

JOHOR BARU: A New Zealander, who is a crew member of a yacht, went missing while swimming close to the boat, which was anchored about one nautical mile off Jason Bay Beach in Tanjung Sedili near Kota Tinggi last night.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Southern Region deputy director (Operations), Maritime Capt Sanifah Yusof said Robert Mark Fagan, 63, was reported missing at about 3am today.
He said a search-and-rescue (SAR) operation was mounted as soon as the agency was alerted about the incident by the victim's friend.
"The SAR operation is still ongoing involving a search area of about 10 sq nautical miles in the waters off Sedili Kecil," he said in a statement here.
Sanifah said 31 personnel from the MMEA, Royal Malaysia Police, Fire and Rescue Department and the Civil Defence Force were involved in the operation.
The search for the missing man was also being conducted along Jason Bay beach, he said.
Sanifah added the yacht had anchored at the location and was scheduled to continue its journey in the Sail Malaysia Passage to the East Yacht 2018 programme. — Bernama