Missing Singaporean kayakers: Son of Puah Geok Tin confirms her death
SINGAPORE — The son of a Singaporean woman who went missing in a kayak expedition confirmed her death on social media on early Thursday morning (15 August).
Louis Pang, 23, the son of 57-year-old Josephine Puah Geok Tin, said in an Instagram story and on Facebook, “You’ve led a wonderful and glorious life. You did what you love to do till the very end. Rest in peace, Mummy. I love you.
“Now spread your wings and be free. I promise to bring you back home safe with me.”
Ranie Pang, Puah’s 26-year-old daughter, shared her younger brother’s post on Instagram and said, “You’ll live in our hearts forever.”
Their posts come hours after Malaysian officials on Wednesday confirmed that a body was found off the coast of Terengganu. Last Thursday, Puah and another Singaporean went missing during a kayak expedition.
In response to Yahoo News Singapore’s queries, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) said that the body was found fully clothed with a life jacket by a fisherman about 100 nautical miles (185 km) from where the duo went missing.
“The body has not been identified and is being brought to land by rescuers,” the statement in Malay said.
Puah, along with retired lawyer Tan Eng Soon, 62, became separated from a group of 13 other Singaporeans at around 5.40pm in Endau waters last Thursday, some eight hours after setting off from a jetty in Mersing.
The duo was believed to have drifted away from the group due to turbulent sea and strong wind conditions.
The discovery of the body came a day after a green kayak was found by a fisherman more than 80 nautical miles (148 km) away from where the duo were last seen.
Two bags containing Malaysian and Singapore currencies, one mobile phone, a Singapore passport belonging to Tan, a clothing bag, one identity card and a paddle were found in the kayak, said local authorities.
Puah’s and Tan’s family members had verified the belongings of the two missing Singaporeans, according to an Instagram story by Louis Pang on Wednesday.
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