"Hi Dad, I'm alive": Missing Aussies found in Indonesian waters
Four Australians have been found off the coast of the Aceh region of Indonesia, days after they went missing on a boating expedition.
Elliot Foote, Steph Weisse, Will Teagle and Jordan Short were on a surfing trip in Indonesia for Mr Foote's 30th birthday, when they jetted off on Sunday for a boating day.
The four Aussies were on a wooden boat with three Indonesian crew members when they lost contact in the evening after running into bad weather.
9News confirmed that the four Australian tourists were found floating on surfboards, as the boat has yet to be located, while it remains unclear if the local crew members had been found.
The owner of Banyak Surf Resort, Julian Lauencoan, confirmed on Tuesday that the Australians had been rescued by a catamaran.
Peter Foote, the father of the fourth member Elliot, told the ABC that he received a text message from his son, confirming he is alive.
He said the text said "hi dad, I'm alive", but is still waiting to speak to his son for official confirmation.
"It looks hopeful, he has paddled off and left the group and gone to get help, trying to make it to an island for help," Peter Foote said.
"They know which island — they are tracking him down to find him and I am sure it will all turn out well. Fingers crossed but not confirmed. I can't start to celebrate just yet."
Mr Foote said that he had spoken with Ms Weisse's father, and that the rescued trio were understood to be "probably thinner and waterlogged" but relatively healthy.
"They were all bobbing around on their surfboards. I don't know what happened to the vessel," Mr Foote said.
"You call it luck or faith, I don't know what it is. Somehow they have survived, most of them until now. I am sure they have survived it. It is freak luck."
Image credits: Today