Skipper who led rescue of four Aussie surfers stranded at sea off coast of Indonesia reveals two key things they did that saved their lives

The skipper who led the rescue of the four Australian surfers stranded off the Indonesian coast for two nights after their boat sank has revealed the extraordinary steps they took to survive.

Elliot Foote, girlfriend Steph Weisse and friends Will Teagle and Jordan Short have been cast adrift in the waters off the Indonesian island of Sumatra after their wooden dinghy ran into rough conditions on Sunday night.

The four were vacationing in Indonesia with eight other friends to celebrate Mr. Foote’s upcoming 30th birthday.

All four Aussies and two of their Indonesian boat crew spent 36 hours in the middle of the ocean until help finally arrived Tuesday morning.

They were floating on surfboards in open water when rescuers finally arrived.

Grant Richardson, an Australian who led the rescue operation, revealed that the group drank rainwater from their hair to survive the challenging conditions.

Australian surfers Steph Weisse, Elliot Foote, Will Teagle and Jordan Short (pictured, left to right) spent 36 hours lost at sea before finally being rescued

“They drank water from their hair when it rained, so that was pretty lucky,” Mr Richardson said A current situation.

“The rain actually gave them some food and they were smart enough to say, ‘Guys, we just need to keep drinking as much as we can while it’s raining.'”

The group may also owe their survival to their quick thinking when it became clear that the boat was sinking.

“They got hit on the side of the boat by the waves a few times, the boat started to flood and they were smart enough to say, ‘OK, guys, let’s get some stuff together quickly, just in case we end up end up in the water’,’ said Mr Richardson.

“They grabbed surfboards, they grabbed wetsuits, brash tops, they were smart thinkers.

Many people don’t think quickly in that situation.’

Meanwhile, the Aussies are heartbroken that their Indonesian guide Fifan has not been found four days later.

Australian surfer guide Fifan (pictured) is still missing four days after the boat capsized

The group had traveled to Indonesia to celebrate Mr. Foote’s birthday (pictured, Mr. Foote and Mrs. Weisse)

“My deepest thoughts are with Fifan’s family. Our merry young guide who has not been found,” Mr. Foote posted Thursday.

“I wish we could have done more to help you, and that will be a burden to me.”

“I understand the loneliness you must have felt alone in those hours, and my condolences to your family.”

The incredible moment when Steph, Will and Jordan, along with two boat crews, were found floating on surfboards was caught on camera, with the group cheering as their rescuers got closer to the group.

Not seen in the footage was Mr Foote, who had swam off to paddle to land and was found hours later 3 miles away from the group.

Elliot Foote suffered a sunburn and rash after spending 36 hours at sea

The search began when their boat, en route from remote Banyak Island, failed to arrive at its final destination on Pinang Island on Sunday evening.

The four surfers and their crew had chosen to trek through the rough weather on Sunday night, while a group of eight of their friends took refuge on Saran Alu.

Mr Foote went on to say that the experience was ‘something I cannot comprehend’.

‘My emotions are incredibly mixed; elation, guilt, full adrenaline, fear, pure joy and happiness,” he said.

“From the moment the boat went down to the moment we were reunited on Pinang Island, uncertainty was the only certainty.

“I didn’t know if my eight friends had arrived on the island the Sunday night before us, if my friend Steph, Will, and Jordan had been found and rescued before I did, or if I should go out and find them. ‘

Elliot Foote thanked everyone involved in the search

Mr. Foote’s thoughts are with the family of Fifan (pictured), the merry guide of the group who has not been found

Mr. Foote took the time to thank those who supported the frantic search.

“To all my friends, family and the wider global community who have reached out. To show love, check my well-being and get an idea of ​​what happened. Thank you, it means so much to me,” he said.

“I am truly moved and filled with love and gratitude for life.

Mr Foote also paid tribute to the ‘Pinang 12’ who were with him in Indonesia to celebrate his birthday

“What a bunch of absolute weapons,” he continued.

“Everyone played their part in rescue efforts and negotiations, nobody stopped until their friends were found and the search for Fifan continued.

‘The ‘lucky’ four. Real perseverance and determination in a life and death situation, paddling for hours with nothing but a hunch. I love you.’

This is the incredible moment when Steph Weisse, Will Teagle and Jordan Short and an Indonesian crew member were located after being lost at sea for 36 hours

Mr Foote was pictured enjoying a beer after being rescued from Indonesian waters, where he survived by floating on a surfboard