Update: All Australian Surfers & Two Crew Members Found On Missing Indonesian Boat - Stab Mag

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Update: All Australian Surfers & Two Crew Members Found On Missing Indonesian Boat

With one hell of a story to tell — the search for the remaining crew member continues.

news // Aug 15, 2023
Words by Ethan Davis
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Six out of the seven passengers onboard the missing Indonesian surf boat have been found according to the live missing persons report. One Indonesian crew member has not yet been confirmed rescued.

According to Ellie Sedgwick, the sole female passenger, Steph Weisse, was found first, “She is safe on a boat. She said her partner Elliott paddled off to find help on his surfboard and is still missing, but he is a strong surfer and was last seen only 5 km from land.”

0830 : WILL TEAGLE, JORDAN SHORT, STEPH WEISSE FOUND ALIVE FLOATING ON SURFBOARDS- FOUND BY SEA MI AMORE BOAT THAT SEARCHED OVERNIGHT. 

0845: INFO THAT ELLIOT HAD LEFT THE GROUP TO PADDLE FOR HELP ON PALAMBAK ISLANDS. SEARCH COMMENCING TOWARD ISLAND. 

0850: BERSANAS NIAS AUTHORITIES NOTIFIED OF GPS POSITION AND INFORMATION AND COMMENCE SEARCH OPERATION. NO WORD ON LOCAL INDONESIANS

0850: LOCAL INDONESIAN BOATS HEAD TO THE GPS LOCATION TO JOIN THE SEARCH.

0900: Search mission is still in place for Indonesian crew Junardi Akhmed, FIvan, Kibal.

0907 : two indonesians confirmed on board alive. Names not given yet.

0925 situation update: 3 Australians, 2 Indonesians rescued. Search operation still in place for Elliot Foote and Indonesian Citizen (names of indonesians not communicated yet). Some miscommunication occurred between search crews that elliot had been found, but was clarified soon after that he is still missing, last seen paddling towards PALUA PALAMBAKBESAR.

0955 : ELLIOT CONFIRMED ALIVE. HE IS IN A SURF CAMP IN THE BAY OF PLENTY.

1028 : Elliot safely with friends on destination island.

1033: One indonesian remains missing at sea. 

1041 : last known location of missing indonesian sent to BASARNAS Search mission.

11:50: Three Australians and two Indonesians were found floating in the water drifting at sea by their two friends Ben , Ethan, with Czech surf guide JACOB  who embarked on a search mission early this AM with same captain and deckhand, on the same vessel which experienced adverse weather and made it to safety on 13.8.23. (Boat 2).

 The captain and crewman who saved 8 Australians lives from the wild storm on 13.8.23 via finding shelter in intense circumstances and navigating through the wild storm with minimal to no resources, did not stop searching the entire time persons were lost at sea. The local crew, and their friends are the true heroes, who had little to no resources, but ended up with the result. 

The captain (yustinus) and crewman who managed to navigate and save 8 Australians on 13/8/23 are still out at sea looking for there last missing friend.

Elliot was found by local fisherman over 20 miles away after being lost at see by himself.  The local fisherman from Nias Island dropped Elliot to a nearby surf camp in the Bay of Plenty.

 The heroic and collective efforts from Boat 2 Australians + Indonesian crew, the local Village effort, the crew of Grant Richardsons Sea Mi Amore who went out late at night with full confidence that the persons were Alive and would be found. An extensive crew of surf boat charters, sailing boats, local boats, BASARNA INDONESIAN AUTHORITIES, Jordans family friend contact Steve within Indonesia, AMSA (AUSTRALIA), DFAT (AUSTRALIA), THE FAMILIES ,FRIENDS, STAFF OF DESTINATION ISLAND AND ALL OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SURVIVAL OF 6/7 PEOPLE TO THIS POINT.  THE EFFORT DID NOT STOP.  

The guidance from appropriate authorities and collaboration between international agencies including the Australian effort to get things happening in a difficult diplomatic climate, was exceptional. With minimal resources on our island, the non 8 non missing Australians were able to coordinate a search mission,  chain of events, chain of assets and chain of communication which  joined forced and made the situation accessible, clear and up to date to all relevant people at all times.

The Missing Australians and Indonesians managed to work together and save each others lives. The Ship sunk in the adverse weather and upon a rushed and catastrophic exit in which the vessel sunk, what ever what was accessible could be helpful in the survival effort was taken.  The Missing persons have been through a significantly traumatic event and privacy must be respected.

It is presumed that the remaining missing Indonesian Person is now a retrieval mission, and feared passed away.

 But hope within the local village community does remain. It is a traumatic time for the local village who worked non stop, above there means, and risked their lives constantly in the retrieval effort of all missing persons. The locals stayed out in there small boats at night, when officials would not continue in darkness.

11:55 Search continues for remaining Indonesian lost at sea, lead by local Yusitinus and his crew of heroes.

More to come.

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