Indonesian teenager rescued after 49 days adrift at sea
Aldi Novel Adilang survived by drinking seawater
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A teenager who spent 49 days adrift at sea in a fishing hut has been rescued and returned to his Indonesian home.
Aldi Novel Adilang was cut loose when a storm snapped the mooring on the simple wooden structure, known locally as a romdong, on 14 July.
The 19-year-old worked as a lamp keeper on a floating fish trap around 77 miles offshore from his home on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.
Lighting lamps around the structure each night so that it would attract fish, he was suppled with food, water and fuel each week.
With no engine or paddles, he was left at the mercy of the tides. He survived by catching fish, burning wood from his hut to cook them and drinking seawater through his clothes to minimise the salt intake.
Each time he saw a ship, he waved frantically, but over 10 vessels passed him without spotting him.
Eventually he was picked up on 31 August, thousands of miles from home in waters off the US territory of Guam, by the Panamanian-flagged vessel, MV Arpeggio, almost a-month-and-a-half after he was cut adrift.
The ship's captain noticed the teenager's radio distress signal and turned the carrier around.
Although the teenager was very weak and he fell into the sea when he jumped after a rope they had thrown to him.
The ship's crew nonetheless managed to use it to rescue him, despite the waves around the trap being high.
The crew continued on their journey to Japan, when Mr Adilang was taken to the Indonesian consulate.
“Aldi said he had been scared and often cried while adrift," Fajar Firdaus, a diplomat at the consulate.
Authorities then arranged to have him flown to Indonesia and he has now been reunited with his family.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments