A girl from London with learning difficulties has gone missing in Malaysia, a family friend has said.
Police with sniffer dogs have launched a search for 15-year-old Nora Quoirin.
The teenager had been on a family holiday at a resort on the edge of rainforest near the capital, Kuala Lumpur.
Her parents discovered she was not in her hotel room at about 6.30am on Sunday and that the window was open, according to the friend.
Catherine Cook said Nora’s parents were frantic, adding: “It’s out of character for Nora to go wandering off.
“I cannot imagine the hell that they are living right now.
“I just ask for anyone who can help them to do so as soon as possible.
“To my knowledge, the French government and the Irish government are helping them, and it would be great if other agencies or governments worldwide could support them.”
Nora, whose mother, Meabh, is originally from Belfast and whose father is French, is understood to have been travelling on an Irish passport, although the couple are said to have lived in London for at least 20 years.
Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs said it was providing consular assistance.
Ms Cook said: “They had just arrived – it was going to be a trip of a lifetime.”
Their hotel, the Dusun in the town of Serembam, looked beautiful with an infinity pool, she said.
“They went to bed, but this morning Nora was not in her room and the window was open.”
Additional reporting by agencies
