Mehdi Habibi’s father vows to never give up hope

This weekend, the family of Adelaide teen Mehdi Habibi should have been celebrating his 17th birthday. Instead, they are maintaining a vigil on the island he was last seen.

Missing Teenager Mehdi Habibi with his father Mir Habibi and Brother Sahil Habibi. Picture: Supplied

The father of a teenage boy swept off the rocks at Granite Island has vowed to never give up searching for his son.

Mir Habibi has spent the past week in Victor Harbor with his family, searching for his son Mehdi Habibi who was struck by a wave and swept into the sea on Father’s Day.

He has sworn to continue searching, driving to Victor Harbor each day to keep up the island vigil in the desperate hope Mehdi – who would have turned 17 last Friday – will return to the family.

“We keep coming here every day,” Mr Habibi said.

“It is very tough.”

There was no birthday celebration for the teen, who along with his brother and mother only reunited with the family patriarch in Adelaide in November last year.

Mr Habibi remains stoic throughout the heart-wrenching search, keeping his family close as they keep watch from Granite Island’s shores.

His 14-year-old son returns to the island most days and has stayed out of school, and is instead being tutored at home.

The brothers had been with their family for a Father’s Day picnic in Victor Harbor when they ducked across to Granite Island to explore the rocks and get a photo.

In a tragic twist, Sahil had recorded Mehdi standing on the rocks just moments before he was swept out to sea.

The moment was caught on camera.

Mr Habibi said the ongoing search had taken a toll on his family.

His wife has barely slept in the past eight days, waking at midnight to pray for her lost son.

Mr Habibi, too, is praying Mehdi will return to them soon.

It was meant to be the first Father’s Day for the family in 14 years, after Mr Habibi arrived in Australia in 2010 and made a life as a travel agent in Adelaide.

Originally from Afghanistan, Mehdi, Sahil and their mother lived in Quetta in Pakistan before moving to Australia.

Mehdi Habibi missing from Granite Island after being swept from rocks, copy pics. Supplied by family

The brothers were enrolled in Adelaide Secondary College.

Mr Habibi revealed he drove from Prospect to Victor Harbor every day because of the lack of accommodation.

Arriving about 6am each day, he and a dedicated group of friends and extended family walk the 630m bridge to the island.

There they search along the water for any sign of Mehdi.

Police have searched the area extensively from above and on ground, extending the search zone to the Goolwa shore based on tide and current mapping.

Conditions have remained cold and windy for the past week.

But still, Mr Habibi is undeterred.

He told The Advertiser he would continue driving the 170km round trip until his son was found.