Gripping footage captures the terrifying moment a missing teenager is washed off the rocks at a popular beach by huge waves as his brother looks on in horror.
Mehdi Habibi, 17, was last seen on Sunday afternoon walking across large rocks at Granite Island, near Victor Harbour in South Australia.
His distraught brother Sahil filmed on his phone the moment Mehdi was hit by the wave as the teenager tried to get up on the rock face.
My brother said, ‘Take a picture of me,’ and I [took] “His photo,” Sahil said 7 News.
Seconds later, Mehdi was dragged into the ocean before emergency services arrived.
Police have still not found him two days after the horrific incident, after the family travelled from Adelaide to celebrate Father’s Day.
The siblings were at the beach for a family picnic and were walking along the water when disaster struck.
The teenagers, originally from Afghanistan, arrived in Australia from Pakistan last year, where they were reunited with their father and other family members.
Mehdi Habibi, 17, (pictured) was swept out to sea at around 3.15pm on Sunday after being hit by huge waves while on rocks off Granite Island in South Australia.
Fahima Habibi, Mehdi’s aunt, said his parents are struggling to come to terms with what happened.
“Everyone is worried, everyone is not sleeping,” she said. “(His mother) is very upset. Everyone is upset,” Ms Habibi told the Adelaide Advertiser.
Friends and loved ones, including Mehdi’s mother, gathered on the beach Monday as rescuers resumed the search.
Abdullah Fakhri, a close family friend, described Mehdi as a “caring” boy who helped his father.
Mr Fakhri said Mehdi’s family hopes he is found soon.
“They are very sad and devastated because they have lost a loved one,” he told the newspaper.
Mehdi’s brother Sahil captured the terrifying moment his brother was dragged into the water by the huge waves (photo)
Mehdi’s distraught younger brother Sahil (pictured) revealed that Mehdi asked him to take a photo as he lay on the rocks, moments before the horror unfolded
Dangerous weather conditions and choppy waves are making ongoing search and rescue efforts difficult for emergency workers.
South Australia Police said in a statement on Monday that police and SES volunteers were searching the area on foot.
“Volunteer Marine Rescue and Surf Lifesaving SA vessels are standing by,” they said.
Police Inspector Gene Vaninetti said police helicopters were also deployed. The search will resume Tuesday.
The search for missing teenager Mehdi Habibi (pictured) enters its third day on Tuesday
Granite Island is closed to visitors due to rescue efforts.
The area is a popular destination for both locals and tourists who want to walk, fish or enjoy the beautiful views.
South Australia is being hit by wild weather caused by a strong cold front moving across the southern parts of Australia’s east coast.
Victoria and parts of New South Wales were also hit by devastating winds of more than 100km/h on Monday, creating dangerous surfing conditions.