Moment Aussie surfers are found in the ocean on their boards after their boat vanished in storm
- Four Aussie surfers missing in Indonesia found at sea
- Friend’s footage captured moment three were found
- Fourth one rescued 5km away shortly afterwards
- He was pictured showing off scars and having a beer
Footage has emerged of the moment a group of young Aussie surfers missing off the coast of Indonesia were found after 36 hours lost at sea.
Elliot Foote, his partner Steph Weisse and mates Will Teagle and Jordan Short were among a group of 12 Australians travelling on two wooden longboats between Nias Island and the Pinang Surf resort on the Banyak Islands, off the west coast of the mainland.
The two vessels ran into bad weather during the 50km voyage on Sunday.
One of the boats found refuge on an island halfway from their destination, but the boat carrying four Australians and three Indonesian crew members continued to attempt to make the crossing, despite treacherous conditions.
Following an extensive search which continued into a second day, Steph, Will and Jordan were found alive and well on Tuesday morning, floating on their surfboards in the middle of the ocean off Aceh, waiting for help to arrive after their boat sank.
Elliot was found 5km away on a nearby island 90 minutes later. He became separated from the trio after paddling off toward the island in a quest to get help.
The group’s frantic friends back at the resort have spent the last two days appealing for public assistance in the search.
One mate on a search boat during the rescue mission filmed the moment he spots Steph, Jordan and Will in the middle of the ocean, sparking jubilant scenes.
The friend is heard cheering and screaming for joy.
This is the incredible moment Steph Weisse, Will Teagle and Jordan Short and an Indonesian crew member were located after 36 hours lost at sea
The fourth missing Aussie Elliot Foote (pictured) was rescued a short time later
‘Yes! Woo!’ the mate is heard screaming as he continues to whoop for joy.
Steph, Will, Jordan and one of their Indonesian crew members are seen waving their arms above their heads in calm waters as the rescue boat approaches them.
The mate on the boat soon becomes concerned when he realises one is still missing.
‘Elliot?,’ he calls out.
‘Have you got him?’ Steph is heard asking.
‘Where’s Elliot?’
Elliot was later rescued and reunited with his relieved partner and friends, showing off his sunburn and scars sustained during the 36-hour ordeal.
Another photo shared on social media shows Elliot enjoying a well-earned beer once back on dry land shortly after the miracle rescue.
The four surfers were later taken to a nearby hospital to be checked out.
Steph, Will and Jordan were found floating on their surfboards in the middle of the ocean, waiting for help to arrive
A tired but relieved Elliot Foote enjoyed a well-earned beer when he returned to dry land
Elliot’s father Peter Foote, was speaking with reporters at the time when the first three were found while remaining hopeful that his son would be found.
Confirmation that Elliot had also been found came while Mr Foote was doing a TV interview at the front of his home.
‘It’s saying they’re all found,’ Mr Foote’s partner was heard yelling from the balcony, with her phone held in her hand.
Mr Foote then received a text message confirming the news.
‘Hey Dad, Elliot here. I am alive, safe now, love you. Chat later,’ his son had texted.
A relieved Mr Foote is now keen to speak to Elliot as soon as possible.
‘I still want to talk to him. I’m happy, you know, I’m happy like I can talk now, you know, I’m not gonna crack up and break down,’ he said.
Four Australians who went missing on a charter boat off between Nias Island and the Pinang Surf Resort, on Pinang Island have been found (pictured: Elliot Foote and Steph Weisse)
‘I don’t know if I can celebrate. He’s put me through too much pain to celebrate.
‘I’ve aged in the last two days, 100 per cent.’
He has been told his son is en route back to Penang Island, where he’ll be reunited with his partner Steph and mates.
He had became separated from the trio when he paddled to an island on his surfboard to seek help.
Mr Foote hopes to get a call from Elliot later on Tuesday.
‘He’ll hook up with his mates and hopefully grab a phone that works and give me a call from there,’ he said.
‘They’ll be calling off the search now and Elliot will be on his way back to the island, they’ll all regroup and get healthy and probably have a great night tonight.’
Mr Foote set up a base camp from his Bronte home on Monday while keeping in frequent contact with authorities involved in the search and rescue efforts.
It’s understood an Australian expat volunteering in the search efforts for the group was the one to find missing Aussies.
They’ve been in the water a long time, I don’t know how they’re going to be health-wise,’ Mr Foote said.
‘But they’re found, they’re alive, they’re well. It’s all good, it’s fantastic news. It’s unbelievable actually, I’m so stoked about that.’
Aussies Jordan Short and Will Teagle have also been found
He said tight-knit group would have been looking after each other during the ordeal.
‘They’re all best mates, they’d be hugging each other. We got all kinds of messages and calls from people on the ground,’ Mr Foote said.
‘It’s freak luck. Bad luck to get into that position. They’ll laugh and thrive off this.’
Peter Foote (pictured) was speaking to the media at his home when confirmation came through that his son Elliot had also been found, along with his three friends
The group of 12 were all friends who were celebrating Elliot’s 30th birthday.
They were intending to travel to the island to rent exclusive bungalows and surf for 10 days.
Hours before they went missing, Elliot revealed on social media that it was ‘so good’ to be back in Indonesia.
‘Soho gulah Sorake … so good being back in Indo after so many years. Sharing waves with mates and the queen,’ he posted on Instagram.
‘Starting the trip off with hiking in the North Sumatran jungle and seeing Orangutan’s was an amazing experience and something that I look forward to doing again for a longer time and going deeper.
‘Bukit Lawang is a beautiful spot with such kind people.’
The four Aussies were found hours after their frantic families put out a statement on Monday night via the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
‘Our hearts are aching at the thought that Elliot, Steph, Will and Jordan are missing at sea,’ they said.
‘We continue to pray and hold out hope they will be found.
‘We’d like to thank the Indonesian authorities and the Australian government for their ongoing assistance while search and rescue efforts continue.’
Initial search parties were launched by the Pinang resort and local authorities first this Monday morning.
The group were among a group of 12 Australians across two wooden longboats travelling between Nias Island and the Pinang Surf resort on the Banyak Islands, off the west coast of the mainland, when the vessel struck bad weather on Sunday
Elliot Foote (pictured with girlfriend Steph Weisse) texted his father shortly after being rescued on Tuesday
The group were staying at the exclusive Pinang Surf resort (pictured)
Indonesian National Search and Rescue agency Nias Island chief Octavianto said a rescue team of more than 20 police, military and volunteers utilised small boats to battle heavy weather in further attempts to find the Aussies.
‘Last night the Pinang Resort reported that a speedboat with 10 passengers had arrived in Pinang Island (at around 10.18pm local time), while another speedboat with seven people on board had not arrived yet,’ he said.
‘We’ve deployed three ships, and they are now moving towards the location for search and rescue.
‘However, the issue is that the (missing vessel) is a basic wooden boat without any tracking devices or the like.’
Pinang island is known for its seclusion, stunning scenery and world-class surf breaks (pictured, Jordan Short)
Poor weather and visibility has so far hindered the ability of search parties to locate the missing Aussies (pictured, Steph Weisse)
Pinang island is known for its seclusion, stunning scenery and world-class surf breaks.
It costs USD$150 per night to stay on the island for a ‘self-sufficient’ bungalow, that provides ‘daily surf trips to the Bay of Plenty or Bangkaru Island, plus transfer from and back to Nias airport’.
‘Our friend and surf guide will take you around to all the best spots,’ the resort’s website reads.
Guests on the island receive an inclusive breakfast, lunch and dinner and access to ‘snorkelling, fishing, spearfishing, SUP and kayaking.
The resort’s website states they are booked out between August 13 and August 23, believed to be the party of 10 Australians.
It also provides travel to the island from Nias, the website stating they will ‘be picked up and whisked off to our island by speedboat’.
Elliot Foote shared a series of photos (one above) of the group of 12 friends’ holiday just hours before boarding the missing longboat
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