SURVIVOR: Third high seas rescue of survivor (Indonesia tsunami)

New Straits Times ^ | 10 January 2005

[CounterCounterCulture]

SURVIVOR: Third high seas rescue of survivor

KLANG, Jan 10:

A bizarre variety of flotsam helped a 22-year-old Indonesian survive adrift for 15 days after the deadly tsunami struck the region on Dec 26.

Ari Afrizal was finally rescued by the Liberian-registered container ship MV Al Yamamah about noon yesterday some 320km off the western coast of Sumatra, and arrived safely at Westport in Klang about 11.45pm.

He had been found floating in a fishing raft about 10 metres long.

It was his third "lifeboat".

Ari, from Desa Kabong in Krueng, Sabee, Aceh Jaya, had been working on a house in Kota Aceh Jaya near Banda Aceh when the wave struck.



ARI’S ARK: Ari (inset) survived on water found on his third ‘lifeboat’, a huge raft with a hut on it (pictured). It probably floated away from a fishing village during the big wave.

"I dropped everything and started running towards a nearby hill. I turned around and could not believe what I saw, the biggest wave that was swallowing everything in its path. Within seconds it reached me."Staying afloat on a large plank, he slowly drifted out to the sea.

On the second day, he saw a small sampan that had capsized. "I was in pain as my legs were injured, but I managed to turn the boat upright and climb into it."

Later that day, he saw a man waving to him from a distance, but he could do nothing to help. "There were no oars for me to row the boat towards him and I could not swim that far. I did not see him on the third day."

Drinking only rainwater, Ari stayed in the sampan until the morning of the fifth day, when he saw a fishing raft floating nearby.

"It had a hut on it and I thought I had been rescued. I swam to the raft and climbed onto it. Only then I realised that it was empty."

To his relief, Ari found about three litres of water in a small tank, about 20 litres of kerosene, five hurricane lamps and some clothes. There was also fishing equipment. He ate coconuts floating in the water, husking the softer ones with his teeth. After several days, he started hallucinating and dreaming of being rescued.

His prayers were answered yesterday when an alert officer on watch onboard the Al Yamamah spotted his raft and informed ship captain John Kennedy.

"But I thought the chance of finding someone alive two weeks after the tsunami was very slim," Kennedy said.

The ship approached and Kennedy sounded the whistle. "To our surprise, a frail-looking man emerged."

[CounterCounterCulture]

...

[Red Sea Swimmer]

Great story. A film should be made about it..."Little House on the Tsunami Prairie."

[CounterCounterCulture]

In related news...

TSUNAMI SURVIVORS: Malawati fit to leave hospital



GEORGE TOWN, Jan 10:

Malawati Daud, the expectant mother who survived for six days in the Indian Ocean after the tsunami disaster in Aceh, will be discharged from the Penang Hospital tomorrow.

An official at the Indonesian Consulate General's office here said doctors attending to Malawati, 23, who is 18-weeks pregnant, had confirmed she was physically fit.

"She's been through a lot over the past few days and we are doing our best to help her in whatever way we can," the official said in a telephone interview.

Malawati (left) will be placed under the care of Indonesian Consul-General Erick Hikmat Setiawan after being discharged from hospital.

"We want to ensure she recovers fully before sending her back home," the official said.

It will take another three or four days for the Indonesian consul's office to prepare Malawati's travel documents.

Once back in Indonesia, Malawati is likely to stay with other Acehnese victims at a temporary relief centre in Medan.

Malawati was rescued at 2pm on New Year's Eve by the Penang-based vessel Hoom Xiang 8, and brought to the Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) complex in Batu Maung last Tuesday.

She has been in the hospital's isolation ward for observation since then.

When the tsunami struck Malawati and her husband, Jainuddin Amin, whose whereabouts are still unknown, were in their seafront home in Aceh Jaya.

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[1FASTGLOCK45]

Cool Title for a film, Only the captain John Kennedy is replaced with captain Teddy Kennedy, "Lets go for a ride son!"

[Red Sea Swimmer]

More good news. She can star in the movie aswell...

[HangFire]

Thanks 3C;-)

[CounterCounterCulture]

And of course a ping for you, my friend. :-)

[CounterCounterCulture]

And the second survivor...

HUNGRY: Rizal getting his first decent meal after nine days at sea.

[Red Sea Swimmer]

He's definately in the movie. He can play the chef.

[ravinson]

Sadly, his companion didn't make it.

"Wilson" RIP

[CounterCounterCulture]

Tsunami survivor, Indonesian Ari Afrizal, right, gives a sweet to his compatriot Rizal Shahputra at a hospital in Klang, outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2005. Ari, 21, who was rescued by a container ship on Sunday, says he drifted on the Indian Ocean for two weeks, living on coconuts that he pried open with his teeth while floating on pieces of wood, then a broken boat, and finally a fishing raft. Rizal was rescued by another ship on Jan. 5 after drifting for eight days. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)