Sad irony of missing surfers’ ‘dream holiday’

Four surfers that have gone missing in the Indian Ocean after their boat got into trouble were on their way to very unique island paradise.

The four Australian surfers missing at sea in Indonesia were visiting a tropical island paradise that promised to make them feel like “castaways”.

Elliot Foote, his girlfriend Steph Weisse, Will Teagle and Jordan Short were on their way to Pinang Island, off the west coast of northern Sumatra, which is marketed as a “protected tropical paradise hidden from the rest of the world” that offers a “castaway lifestyle”.

Mr Foote’s father, who lives in Sydney, said he sent Elliot and 11 of his friends to the island as a 30th birthday present to his son.

Missing Australians Elliot Foote and Steph Weisse. Picture: Instagram

Will Teagle.

Jordan Short. Picture: Instagram

On Sunday, the group took two wooden speed boats from Nias, an island 130km west of Sumatra, when they were hit with bad weather.

One of the boats safely reached Pinang, one of the Banyak Islands, after taking shelter but the second boat has not been seen since about 6pm on Sunday.

On Monday, a search party was launched to find the Australians and the three Indonesian crew members who were also on board.

Just hours before boarding the boat Mr Elliot posted a series of images to Instagram of himself surfing.

“Soho gulah Sorake … so good being back in Indo after so many years. Sharing waves with mates and the Queen,” he wrote.

“The Queen” is Mr Foote’s nickname for Ms Weisse. The couple recently moved in together and had started a new life together in Mullumbimby near Byron Bay in northern New South Wales.

Mr Foote is a carpenter who went to Scots College in Sydney and until recently lived in the beachside suburb of Bronte.

Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald from his home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, Mr Foote’s father said the group planned to stay on Pinang for about 10 days.

“Elliot is turning 30 in September and for his 30th birthday I sent him and his mates there on surfing trip,” he said.

“There are a few Scots boys there, mates just from the beach in Bronte, and he’s recently moved to Mullumbimby, so there are some mates from there as well.”

Pinang is a private island and surf resort that can be hired.

It’s website states: “Enjoy so much more than just amazing surfing! Become a castaway and experience a unique Indonesian retreat with delectable local cuisine and secluded beaches”.

Basarnas, the Indonesian search and rescue agency, said the Aussies’ boat had gone missing near an island in the Banyaks called Sarang Alu.

Chief Octavianto of Basarnas said: “Our team has arrived at Sarang Alu Island today (Monday) to search the area. It is the last spot before both boats separated.

“The waves are three to four metres high. It is raining heavily and it’s dark. We can only use smaller boats with good aerodynamics due to the weather. We are searching within 40 nautical miles of Sarang Alu Island.”

It is believed that the missing boat had no navigation devices.