Nora Quorin: Missing teenager starved to death in Malaysian jungle, post mortem finds

No evidence 15-year-old had been abducted or raped after disappearing from resort, police say

A 15-year-old girl from London who disappeared while staying at a resort in Malaysia with her parents starved in the jungle and died of intestinal rupture, a post mortem has found.

Nora Quorin’s body was discovered on Tuesday next to a small stream after a 10-day search, around 1.6 miles from the Dusun resort where she had been staying.

Malaysian Police said there was no suspicion of abduction or foul play.

The teenager died two or three days before her body was found unclothed down a steep ravine in an area previously searched by rescuers, police believe.

Nora, who was born with the neurological disorder holoprosencephaly and was described by her family as “very vulnerable”, disappeared on Sunday 4 August.

During the search, her Irish and French mother and father, Meabh and Sebastien Quoirin, said she must have been abducted as she had difficulty walking and “never goes anywhere by herself”.

But Negeri Sembilan state police chief Mohamad Mat Yusop said the post-mortem examination found no evidence that she had been abducted or raped.

He said Nora had died from “intestinal bleeding, likely from prolonged hunger and stress”.

The police chief said there were also some bruises on the teenager’s legs but that these would not have caused her death, and said samples taken from her body will be sent to the chemistry department for further analysis.

Nora’s family previously said their “hearts are broken” and paid tribute to her as “the truest, most precious girl”.

They thanked all those who had been involved in the search to find her, adding: “Nora has brought people together, especially from France, Ireland, Britain and Malaysia, united in their love and support for her and her family.”

Following the confirmation that Nora’s body had been found, Irish premier Leo Varadkartweeted: “Our thoughts & sincere condolences are with Nora Quoirin’s parents, siblings & wider family at this unimaginably difficult time. They have experienced every family’s worst nightmare. I’d like to pay tribute to everyone who searched for Nora. May she rest in peace.”

A book of condolence was opened on Wednesday at the City Hall in Belfast, where Nora’s mother is from, with John Finucane, the Lord mayor of Belfast the first to sign it.

He said the teenager’s death was “heartbreaking”, and praised the “clear and positive” show of solidarity from the Belfast public.

A special service was held earlier in the week at the south Belfast church where Nora was baptised and where her grandparents are parishioners.

Additional reporting by PA