The four Australians who were feared dead after their boat capsized in Indonesia miraculously survived the terrifying 36-hour ordeal by clinging to their surfboards.
Elliot Foote, his girlfriend Steph Weisse and their two friends Jordan Short and Will Teagle went missing on Sunday evening after their charter boat failed to return from a remote island off the coast of North Sumatra due to bad weather.
The four friends were found safe on Tuesday, along with two of the three Indonesians who were also on the ship. A third Indonesian man remains missing.
Mr Foote, who traveled with 11 of his friends on a surfing trip to the remote island of Pinang to celebrate his 30th birthday, was seen on his friend’s Instagram drinking a beer just hours after his rescue was confirmed.
Back in Sydney, Will Teagle’s sister, Amy, described getting a FaceTime from her brother.
“He said the boat they were on sank in the middle of the night so it was pitch dark and they packed what they could,” she told A Current Affair.
“They each managed to get a surfboard and then spent two nights in the ocean.
Elliot Foote pictured with girlfriend Steph Weisse were both rescued
The Aussies Jordan Short and Will Teagle have also been found
“He said they had no idea where they were, which direction they were facing. By the grace of God I think they managed to paddle in the right direction.
“It’s just very overwhelming.”
Steph, Jordan and Will were found around 11am Sydney time on Tuesday by an Australian captain who left around 10pm local time on Sunday to search for them.
But it was another three hours before Elliot, who had left the group to paddle for help about 3 miles away from the group, was found.
Elliot’s father said the discovery of the three was “fantastic,” but described the stress of the hours before his son was found.
“It was heartbreaking, as you can imagine,” Peter Foote told A Current Affair.
“When I saw that video… and you hear that voice say, ‘Where’s Elliot?’ and they don’t have it.
“My heart just fell.”
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
The group was among a group of 12 Australians in two wooden longboats traveling between Nias Island and the Pinang Surf resort in the Banyak Islands, off the west coast of the mainland, when bad weather hit the ship on Sunday.
Elliot’s friends told rescuers he paddled to the island for help, and he was found there.
Toole said the four did not know the fate of their eight other friends until the time they were at sea.
Speaking to 7News, Jill Weisse, Steph’s mother, said she had felt helpless during the search.
“There’s so little we can do and your mind wanders to all sorts of dark places,” she said.
Steph was the first confirmed Aussie found, followed by
On Tuesday afternoon, Elliot’s father, Peter, confirmed the news that three of the friends had been rescued from the remote islands.
Moments after speaking to Sky News, Mr Foote received a message from his son confirming he had been rescued.
“Hey Dad, Elliot here. I’m alive, safe now, love you. Chat later,” the text read.
The fourth missing Aussie Elliot Foote (pictured) was rescued a short time later
The group stayed at the exclusive Pinang Surf Resort (pictured)
A tired but relieved Elliot Foote enjoyed a well-earned beer as he returned to dry land
Mr Foote praised the work of search and rescue crews, including an Australian living in the area who helped with the search.
He had coordinated friends, hired charter boats and even offered rewards to local fishermen from his home in Sydney.
He told Sky News the man had wanted certainty before calling off the search, before revealing his son’s next move.
“Elliot will return to the island, they (the group) will regroup and get well, and probably have a great night tonight,” he said.
When asked how much he would like to see his son, Mr. Foote replied, “I don’t really need to see him as long as I know he’s alive.”
‘I can’t wait to talk to him, what an adventure he’s on, what a story to tell.
“He still has ten days to go, so he’s in the best spot. They love it, it’s paradise.
“As long as I can talk to him, he doesn’t have to go home.”