Day two of search for Adelaide teenager missing off Granite Island as he’s identified as Mehdi Habibi

The search for the teen swept off rocks at Granite Island has been halted for the day.

Family and friends continues to hold vigil for Mehdi Habibi, who was swept off the rocks at Granite Island three days ago.

On Tuesday morning, around 9.30am, the Habibi family and their friends returned to the southern side of Granite Island, where the 16-year-old teenager Mehdi was last seen standing on the rocks before slipping into the water.

A harrowing incident which was caught on camera.

Emergency services launched a drone to assist the searching mission for Mehdi, while police officer and detectives were seen continuing their investigation on the island.

The Advertiser understands that a search boat will be launched from the island on Wednesday once the waters become safe for rescue crews.

Sahil Habibi, the younger brother of Mehdi, was observed sitting alone and looking out towards the water, while other family members stood behind him at a distance.

The family said they intend to keep return to the island until Mehdi is found.

Meanwhile, Granite Island has remained open to the public on Tuesday - after it was temporarily closed on Monday.

THE TRAGIC MOMENT BEFORE MEHDI IS SWEPT OFF THE ROCKS

The younger brother of missing teen Mehdi Habibi has revealed the moments right before he was struck from behind by a wave on Granite Island while standing on a rock.

Sahil Habibi was on the southern side of the island with his brother, who asked him to take a photo of him.

“He slipped, he dipped under the water,” he said.

The harrowing moment was caught on video.

He was seen struggling in the water before vanishing, and has not been seen since.

Sahil was with family, who are from Blair Athol, on the island on Monday and Tuesday as the search for Mehdi, 16, continued after the tragedy on Father’s Day.

A drone was launched to continue the search on Tuesday morning but no boats have been sent out to search today.

In a heartbreaking twist, the family had been celebrating their first Father’s Day together in 14 years when the tragedy occurred.

Mehdi, his brother Sahil and their mother only arrived in Adelaide in November last year as refugees to live with family patriarch and father Mehhi who moved to Australia in 2010.

Originally from Afghanistan, the trio had lived in Quetta in Pakistan before finally reuniting in Blair Athol.

Sahil Habibi stares out at the ocean where his older brother was swept off the rocks. Picture: NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

The moment before Mehdi Habibi was swept from a rock on Granite Island. Picture:7NEWS

Mehdi Habibi, 16, was swept from rocks on Granite Island on Sunday and has not been seen since. Pictures: Supplied by family

Sahil Habibi was with his older brother Mehdi when the tragedy unfolded. Picture: Kelly Barnes

The boys’ aunt, Fahima Habibi, said three family groups were on the beach at Victor Harbor on Sunday for a family picnic.

She said Mehdi and Sahil went over to the island before the alarm was raised about 3.15pm.

A large search was launched but he could not be found.

Monday’s search has been suspended and it is expected to resume on Tuesday morning.

Mrs Habibi said Mehdi’s parents were distraught.

“Everyone is worried, everyone is not sleeping,” she said. “(His mother) is very upset. Everyone is upset.”

She said he arrived in Australia from overseas less than a year ago.

Family friend Abdullah Fakhri said “everyone is really sad” but remained hopeful Mehdi would be found.

“They are very devastated, very sad at this time because they have lost a loved one,” he said.

“He was a good boy, very caring. He was helping his father as well.

“At this stage everyone is hoping the rescue team will find Mehdi.”

His mother is too distraught to talk but the group of family friends say she keeps saying he is alive.

The group say she won’t stop coming back to Granite Island until he is found.

His aunt Fahima Habibi speaks to the media as police and SES search for the teen. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Mehdi was enjoying a family picnic at Victor Harbor for Father’s Day on Sunday when he went over to Granite Island. Picture: Supplied by family

Fahima Habibi with police at Granite Island. Picture: Kelly Barnes

SA Police Inspector Gene Vaninetti said Mehdi was standing on rocks when he was struck from behind by a large wave, disappeared into the ocean and had not been seen since.

He said poor conditions had hampered search efforts, however a large-scale rescue mission was continuing. Efforts were focused on Monday on the eastern side of the island based on drift modelling.

The search will resume on Tuesday.

“The search is ongoing this (Monday) afternoon – conditions out there are not favourable – however we will continue searching until we locate (him),” Inspector Vaninetti said.

“There are several helicopters in the air, SES, volunteer marine rescue, national parks personnel and police.”

The scene of Granite Island as rescue choppers look for the missing teenager, who has fallen from rocks. Picture: Gary Juleff

Inspector Vaninetti said police’s thoughts were with the family.

“The family are extremely devastated. They are on the island under the guidance of police … but naturally they are devastated,” he said.

The search for the teen resumed just after first light on Monday morning.

The police search helicopter was deployed on Monday too as multiple SES units returned to Granite Island to search.

Strong winds were lashing the coastal community with earlier overcast conditions contributing to high swells.

A “TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE TRAGEDY”

Victor Harbor Mayor Dr Moira Jenkins described it as a “terrible, terrible tragedy”.

“My heart goes out to the family and friends of the missing boy,” she said.

“This is an absolute tragedy to have happen; makes it worse being on Father’s Day in some way, but it’s just a terrible, terrible tragedy.

“I also would like to thank all of the volunteers that are out looking for the young man, and all of the locals that are out there as well.”

Victor Harbor local Christine Hutchens said strong winds and big swells had battered the island for the past three days.

Mrs Hutchens said she walked the causeway every day, but didn’t go on Sunday because of the winds.

“Very, very blustery; so much so we didn’t do the island walk,” she said.

She said her thoughts were with the young teen’s family.

“I mean, that’s a parent’s nightmare,” she said.

MIGRANT DROWNINGS ALL TOO COMMON ON OUR COAST

There is a tragic history of drownings of people who have recently immigrated to Australia and tourists off the South Australian coast – the majority at Glenelg and on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

In 2014, Kamran Bimal Gujari, 19, and Nasir Ali Anwari, 18, drowned in separate incidents at Petrel Cove, near Victor Harbor.

Frank Ndikuriyo and Thiery Niyomwungere, both 11, drowned near Glenelg breakwater on New Year’s Day, 2016.

Indian man Alpesh Patel, 25, who had moved to SA to study, drowned off Semaphore beach on March 26, 2016.

Nitisha Negi, 15, drowned at Glenelg in 2017 while visiting the state with her soccer team.

Elias Nimbona, 15, was found dead in the water at Glenelg in 2017 just a week after Nitisha’s death.

Nepalese migrant Nischal Ghimire, 22, drowned at Glenelg on December 27, 2018.

Ahmad Alfarhan, 16, died trying to save a mate who fell into the water on a school trip to Browns Beach on Yorke Peninsula in 2021.

According to the latest National Drowning Report, 12 people drowned in SA in the 12 months to June 30 this year.

Most occurred at beaches (42 per cent), followed by the ocean or habours (33 per cent) and boating (25 per cent).

Nationally, 323 people drowned of which 25 per cent were people born overseas.

“The first months and years in Australia are critical for building awareness, knowledge and skills to boost drowning prevention,” the report said.

“We have seen tragic incidents in people arriving from countries like India, China and Nepal.

“The communities themselves are leading the way by raising awareness and promoting swimming and water safety programs.

“Key policy changes can help to ensure migrants, refugees and international students have early access to structured skill building programs in their local communities.”

Nineteen people across Australia were recorded as having drowned at rocks, of which 58 per cent were due to waves or being swept into the water.