Five missing divers found alive on Indonesian beach

Published on 07/06/2008 10:38

FIVE European divers missing for about two days were found alive on a remote beach in eastern Indonesia today.

A hunt for the divers – three Britons, a Frenchman and a Swede – began after they went missing on Thursday in dangerous waters near the Komodo National Park in the Nusa Tenggara islands.

The five divers were part of a team of 14 who did not surface when waves suddenly picked up during a dive. Their team contacted police, who began scouring the waters late on Thursday.

"The police patrol spotted them waving their hands from a beach on Rinca island. They were safe and sound, but were a bit hungry," Viktor Jemadu, a senior police officer in the Manggarai Barat area, said.

It is understood that the divers were taken by boat to a medical centre.

Dave Allin, the father of one of the missing divers, Charlotte Allin, said: "We know that they have been found. It is fantastic news. It has been a very long night.

"I haven't spoken to Charlotte yet and we don't know what their medical condition is – they have been floating out there for two days.

"I gather that they have managed to walk under their own steam which is a good sign."