CBS NEWS
Four Australian tourists and two Indonesians were rescued after being missing for two days in the waters off Indonesia’s Aceh province, officials and the father of one of the Australians said.
A wooden speedboat carrying the four Australians and three Indonesian crew members ran into bad weather on Sunday. The details of how they ended up in the sea remain unclear.
Peter Foote, the father of one of the Australians on board, Elliot Foote, said he finally received a text message from his son saying he was alive and well after he and his party went missing at sea. He told the media Elliot had traveled to Indonesia to celebrate his 30th birthday with friends.
One Indonesian crew member is still missing, according to the head of the local rescue agency.
Peter Foote was told his son had paddled his surfboard to an island to raise the alarm, and that the three other Australians were found clinging to their boards at sea. It is not clear how the two Indonesians survived.
Foote told Australian media the group was afloat for nearly two days while his son decided to paddle back to the nearest island and call for help.
They were part of a group of 12 Australians and five Indonesians in two boats who were traveling to Pinang Island, a destination known for its pristine beach and good waves for surfing.
