Rescuers Find Four Australian Surfers Missing off Indonesian Coast

SYDNEY (Reuters) – 4 Australian surfers have been discovered alive after their boat went lacking in unhealthy climate off the east coast of Indonesia’s Aceh province on Sunday, nevertheless a minimum of one in all three Indonesian crew members is believed to nonetheless be lacking.

The seven have been aboard a 10-metre (30 foot) picket vessel travelling from Nias Island to Aceh province’s Banyak Islands once they have been separated from a second vessel throughout unhealthy climate round 6 p.m. on Sunday, in line with Indonesia’s nationwide rescue company.

All 4 surfers had been discovered secure, in line with 9 Information, citing the daddy of Elliot Foote, one of many lacking. Separate video footage confirmed father Peter Foote studying a textual content from his son: “Hey Dad, Elliot right here. I’m alive, secure now, love you. Chat later.”

Unconfirmed studies mentioned two of the Indonesia crew have additionally been discovered secure however one was nonetheless lacking at sea.

Indonesia’s nationwide rescue company instructed Reuters it had dispatched a rescue staff to the survivors location however didn’t affirm any details about these rescued.

Father Peter Foote instructed reporters he wished his son and associates to complete the rest of their vacation.

“It has been arduous, nevertheless it’s all good now,” he instructed Sky Information. “Cannot wait to speak to him. Wow, what an journey he is having, a narrative to inform. He is come out the opposite finish effectively so it is all good.”

Accidents involving boats are widespread in Indonesia, an archipelago of greater than 17,000 islands, as lax security requirements usually permit vessels to be overloaded with out ample life-saving gear.

(Reporting by Lewis Jackson in Sydney and Stanley Widianto in Jakarta; Enhancing by Lincoln Feast)

Copyright 2023 Thomson Reuters.