Special Needs British Teen Disappears on Malaysia Holiday, Massive Search On

Nora Quoirin, 15 with special needs went missing from a Malaysian resort on Aug. 4 LBT/FAMILY

A massive search operation is on after a 15-year-old British teen on a family holiday disappeared from a Malaysian resort on Aug 4.

Nóra Quoirin, from London, arrived with her family at The Dusan resort in a nature reserve near Seremban, 63 kilometers (39 miles) south of Kuala Lumper, Malaysia, on Saturday.

“Her father raised the alarm when he discovered her missing from her bedroom at 8 a.m. local time on Sunday, Aug. 4,” said a spokesperson of Lucie Blackman Trust that is helping Quoirin’s family locate her. “Her window had been opened.”

The spokesperson said in a media release that Quoirin is the daughter of an Irish-french couple, that she has special needs, and is particularly vulnerable on her own.

A picture of Nora Quoirin, 15, released by her family. LBT/FAMILY

“Nóra’s parents and relatives in Ireland and France are distraught by her disappearance. Nóra is a child with special needs and has learning and developmental disabilities which make her especially vulnerable and we fear for her safety," Aisling Agnew, the girl’s aunt, said in Belfast on Monday.

The family also said there’s no way that Quoirin could have left the resort on her own.

“Nóra would not know how to get help and would never leave her family voluntarily. We now consider this a criminal matter. We are appealing to everyone to assist the local police in any way they can and to pass on any information that would help locate our beloved Nóra without delay,” said Agnew.

Massive Search Operation On

The UK-based Lucie Blackman Trust, which helps “families throughout a missing person’s case overseas,” confirmed that a massive search was going on for the teen on Monday. 

“Malaysian police have been running an extensive search and rescue operation in the region today. They say it is too early to rule out abduction. Reports coming from Malaysia have been confusing throughout the day,” the spokesperson said.

The Dusun resort’s management confirmed the news of the search operations in a Facebook post on Monday.

“The DUSUN management and staff are working with police to locate 15-year-old Nora who disappeared from one of our guest houses on Sunday morning. We are extremely distressed and worried and pray for her safety,” it said.

They said the staff at the resort looked for Quoirin across the 12-acre property on Sunday morning and then joined police in searching for her till 3 a.m. on Monday.

“We are giving what support we can to Nora’s distraught family. We appeal to the community here on Pantai Hills and to the wider community to contact the Pantai police with any information they may have,” the statement reads.

Quoirin’s family has set up an email ([email protected]) and a twitter for any information leading to her safe return.

People with information about the teen can remain anonymous and can call the Lucie Blackman Trust 448000988485 or email [email protected]

A poster released by Lucie Blackman Trust. LBT/FAMILY

“There have been a number of conflicting reports throughout the day regarding the status of the investigation,“ Trust’s Chief Executive, Matthew Searle MBE said in an email. ”However what is important is that a vulnerable young girl is missing, for whatever reason, and we need to find her urgently. That has to be the focus and we welcome the extensive and continued deployment of police.”