'My home for a while': Missing dad’s eerie last Facebook post from doomed ship
A young Australian father missing off the coast of Japan after the ship he was on board capsized shared a photo of the vessel in his last Facebook post.
Lukas Orda, a vet from the Gold Coast, shared an image of the Gulf Livestock 1 vessel 10 weeks ago as he embarked on a work trip to China via New Zealand.
“This is my ride and home for a little while,” he wrote, sharing the image of the ship’s towered livestock cages.
One comment described the vessel as a “floating prison ship”.
Mr Orda was one of two Australians on board the ship which capsized with 43 people onboard in the East China Sea in treacherous conditions caused by Typhoon Maysak.
Japanese broadcaster NHK reported the Panamanian-registered livestock vessel, with 5867 cattle onboard, sent a distress call at around 1.40am (local time) on Wednesday, west of Amami Oshima island.
Wife’s emotional plea
Late on Thursday, his wife Emma took to Facebook sharing a picture of herself with her husband.
“Please come home really soon, we love you,” she wrote with a love heart emoji.
Her post was quickly inundated with messages of support from friends.
Ms Orda gave birth to their son Theodore on February 29, just three months after marrying her partner.
Mr Orda had recently left his job as an equine vet on the Gold Coast in June for his new role in live export.
“Great career move Lukas congratulations,” one person commented on a post about his new role on Facebook.
Others urged him to be safe during the long trip.
As news broke of the ship’s disappearance, friends flocked to his Facebook page.
“If only we could turn back time and stop you from getting on that boat,” one person said.
“I'm praying to the Gods you are ok, I'm devastated. I was thinking it has to be all a bad nightmare,” another said.
“It just can't be true. You are loved by so many. You have helped so many of us in our darkest times with sick horses. Your amazing career and family life was just beginning. Oh please be ok,” one comment read.
Mr Orda is married with a six-month-old son, the Townsville Bulletin reported.
Only one seaman, a 45-year-old Filipino chief officer, Sareno Edvarodo, has so far been rescued.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is assisting the families of the Australians.
"The Australian government is providing consular assistance to the families of two Australian crew members on board a cargo vessel reported missing in Japanese waters," DFAT said on Thursday.
"Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment."
According to Mr Edvarodo, the vessel lost an engine before it was hit by a wave and capsized, a coast guard spokeswoman said.
When the ship capsized, crew were instructed to put on life jackets. Mr Edvarodo said he jumped into the water and did not see any other crew before he was rescued.
Two New Zealanders and 39 people from the Philippines were also onboard.
with AAP
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