SUVA, Fiji (7 Sep 2004) -- A PORT Macquarie father is hoping against hope that a last-ditch rescue will find his daughter, missing in Fijian waters for a week. Mal Gibbons, president of Port City Lions Club, and his wife Fran yesterday funded a final aerial search of the waters off Nananui-i-Ra but were not confident of success. "We're doing what we can but this is just so far out of the square ... it's basically over," a distraught Mr Gibbons told the Port Macquarie News from Fiji. Mr Gibbons' daughter Danielle went to Fiji earlier this year to improve her diving. It is believed she and Dan Greiner, the American owner of a dive lodge, became separated from their group during a dive last Tuesday. Neither has been seen since. "We're clutching at straws but of course we're going to turn over every rock we can," Mr Gibbons said. The Gibbons, and Danielle's mother Janice, have all been left frustrated by the rescue attempts. "They simply don't have the infrastructure to actually do something like this," Mr Gibbons said. "It's not through the lack of wanting to help - it's just they don't have the facilities." While not wanting to condemn the support provided by the Australian government, as the incident happened in Fijian waters, help has been limited. A Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman said the Australian High Commission in Suva had been liaising with all parties, including the Gibbons. Lyne MP and Trade Minister Mark Vaile said he was well aware of the situation and had been in contact with Foreign Affairs. "Our authorities have been in close contact with the Fijian government and the family," Mr Vaile said yesterday. | Danielle Gibbons and Crystal Divers owner Dan Grenier went missing off Viti Levu. "As a parent my heart goes out to the family." Mr Vaile said Australian Search and Rescue had investigated the possibility of sending planes to the area but "its craft are too large for tight island searches as this". "It is just one of those very difficult circumstances," he said. Mr Greiner's company is believed to have also prvately funded air and sea searches on the islands off Viti Levu. SOURCE - Port Macquarie News | 
