Four Australian tourists missing at sea since Sunday have been found alive.
Steph Weisse, Will Teagle, Jordan Short and Elliot Foote were among 17 people who were travelling in two wooden speedboats in Indonesia when they encountered bad weather and heavy rain.
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Steph Weisse, Will Teagle, Elliot Foote and Jordan Short. Credit: 7NEWS
Weisse was said to be found floating in waters on a surfboard on Tuesday morning.
Shortly after, Teagle and Short were reported to have been found. Foote’s father Peter Foote spoke to 7NEWS, sharing live on air he’d been told his son had also been found.
The news has now been formally confirmed.
Before being told his son had also been found, Elliot’s father Peter shared an update with 7NEWS, saying he was “stoked”.
“I’m sure Elliot’s not far away.”
Peter was told his son was found minutes later.
Peter Foote’s (left) son Elliot Foote was one of four surfers missing in Indonesian waters who has now been found. Credit: 7NEWS
An Australian man volunteering in the search efforts for the group was the one to find them, Peter told 7NEWS.
“Steph was bobbing around on a surfboard,” he said.
“She’s pretty rattled, it’s been a long time out there.”
Peter had yet to hear what condition Elliot was in.
“But they’ve been in the water a long time, I don’t know how they’re going to be health-wise,” he 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.”
No information has been released about three missing Indonesian crew members. It is unclear if they have also been found.
Indonesian rescuers preparing to search for the missing boat carrying four Australians. Credit: AP
The boats left North Nias port in Nias island, about 150km from Indonesia’s Sumatra island, bound for Pinang Island on Sunday afternoon before they came upon the tough conditions.
Ten of them decided to shelter on Sarang Alu island, while the others continued towards their destination, Nias Search and Rescue Agency said in a statement on Monday.
The resort on Pinang Island later reported that the boat with 10 passengers had safely arrived, but the other vessel had not been seen.
Local authorities said the search had been hampered by ongoing bad weather and because the missing vessel did not have a tracking device.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was providing consular assistance to the families of the four Australians onboard.
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