The four Australians surfers reported missing off the coast of Indonesia’s Aceh province on Sunday have been found alive. The incident occurred when their boat met adverse weather.
On Tuesday, Steph Weisse, Will Teagle, and Jordan Short were discovered in the water, having used their surfboards to stay afloat. Elliot Foote, after paddling to an island in a bid for help, was subsequently found.
However, the search for one missing Indonesian crew member is still ongoing, as informed by Julien Laurençon, the director of Banyak Surf Resort, who is also a member of the search team.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Australia confirmed that the four Australians previously unaccounted for are safe and have been located.
The spokesperson confirmed that two out of the three Indonesian crew have been located, and the search for the third member is still underway. The spokesperson also expressed heartfelt condolences to the family of the third member. The Australian government expressed profound gratitude to the Indonesian authorities and all those involved in the rescue operation.
Foote recounted his experience of spotting his friends while paddling towards an island on a surfboard, in a video published by ABC. He expressed his surprise and confusion at not getting any closer to the island, despite his efforts. His relief was tangible as he recounted the moment rescuers reappeared.
Prior to his rescue, Foote had sent a message to his father, Peter Foote, assuring him of his safety. This message reached his father while he was participating in a live interview on air.
Indonesian officials have verified that the boat was last spotted in the vicinity of Sarang Alu Island. However, Monday’s search efforts for the NSW surfers were impeded by severe weather conditions, including heavy rainfall and four-meter high waves.
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