Nora Quoirin death: Post-mortem finds 'no foul play'

  • Published
Nora QuoirinImage source, Family handout
Image caption,

Nora Quoirin went missing on 4 August

A teenager found dead in Malaysia after vanishing on a family holiday had not been abducted, police say.

Nora Quoirin's body was found beside a stream about 1.6 miles (2.5km) from the jungle resort of Dusun on Tuesday.

She died from internal bleeding probably caused by hunger and stress, a post-mortem examination revealed.

Malaysian Police said there was no suspicion the 15-year-old, who was discovered following a 10-day search, was the victim of foul play.

Nora died two or three days before she was found, the force believes.

Her unclothed body was found in an area that had previously been searched by rescuers.

She was described by her family as vulnerable having been born with holoprosencephaly, a disorder which affects brain development.

Her Irish-French parents, Meabh and Sebastian, previously said they didn't believe she would have wandered off alone and feared she had been abducted.

Image source, AFP
Image caption,

Rescuers found Nora's body near to the Dusun resort

Negeri Sembilan state police chief Mohamad Mat Yusop, said: "For the time being, there is no element of abduction or kidnapping.

"The cause of death was upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to duodenal ulcer, complicated with perforation."

Further analysis would be carried out on samples taken from her body, he said, adding Nora's family was now free to take her home.

Media caption,

Volunteer searchers in Malaysia describe how they found the body of Nora Quoirin

Speaking after her body was found, Mr and Mrs Quoirin, from London, said their "hearts are broken" and paid tribute to their daughter as "the truest, most precious girl".

They said Nora had "truly touched the world" after her disappearance sparked a huge search operation and good wishes from across the globe.

A book of condolence was opened on Wednesday in Belfast, where Mrs Quoirin is from.

In a statement, the Dusun resort said it wanted to "extend support and assistance in whatever way possible to the Quoirins during these very difficult times".

"We deeply regret that this has happened to the Quoirins during their stay here," it said.

Nora Quoirin disappearance: Timeline

  • 3 August: The Quoirins arrive at the Dusun forest eco-resort

  • 4 August: Nora disappears from her room

  • 5 August: The Lucie Blackman Trust says Malaysian police are treating Nora's disappearance as a potential abduction, but officers deny any foul play is involved

  • 6 August: Nora's family say they believe she has been abducted

  • 11 August: Malaysian police set up a hotline dedicated to receiving information about teenager

  • 12 August: A reward of £10,000 - donated by an anonymous Belfast business - is made available for information leading to Nora's safe return

  • 13 August: Nora's body is found

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