Four Australians found at sea off coast of Indonesia: What you need to know
Elliot Foote, Steph Weisse, Will Teagle and Jordan Short have miraculously been found alive on Tuesday.
Four Australians have miraculously been found alive after vanishing when their wooden speedboat failed to arrive at an island resort off the west coast of Indonesia's Sumatra Island.
What you need to know
Elliot Foote was on a surfing trip for his 30th birthday with friends Steph Weisse, Will Teagle and Jordan Short when their boat hit bad weather after leaving the island of Nias on Sunday night.
More than 36 hours later Steph, Will and Jordan were found floating in the ocean, clinging to surfboards.
Elliot later confirmed around midday on Tuesday he was alive after trying to paddle to a nearby island for help.
Two of three Indonesian crew members have also been accounted for.
The group were found by members of a vast search team that included friends, Australian expats and a private charter plane organised by the Australian government.
❓How did this happen
Two wooden speedboats carrying 17 people were making the 70km, four-hour northbound trip to the small island of Pinang where they planned to stay for 10 days, however only one boat with 10 passengers arrived.
While the exact circumstances that led to the emergency are unclear, it's understood the other boat sank after hitting bad weather.
Indonesia has a vast water transportation industry servicing its more than 17,000 islands. However experts have questioned the industry's safety regulations and how well they are adhered to, including vessel capacity limits.
Data shows Indonesia is the deadliest country in the world for passenger vessel deaths.
🗣️What are they saying
Elliot Foote's father Peter: "Apparently the waves weren’t that problematic. It was just the visibility in the storm."
"You call it luck or faith, I don't know what it is. Somehow they have survived... It is freak luck."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: "“All of us are relieved that the four Australians who were missing in Indonesia have been found."
“We particularly thank our Indonesian friends, who, once again have come to Australia’s support in a time of need."
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
