Tragic moment teen vanished on camera in South Australia
Written by admin on September 3, 2024
Harrowing footage has captured the final moments of a teenage boy as he posed on rocks before being pulled into the ocean by wild waves.
Mehdi Habibi, 16, was standing on a rock to have his photo taken by his brother on the southern side of Granite Island, at Victor Harbor, 83km south of Adelaide, about 3pm on Sunday when he slipped and was swept into the sea.
“He dipped under the water,” his brother Sahil told The Advertiser.
Footage obtained by 7News shows the moment the teenager was climbing on rocks as they were battered by waves.
He never emerged from the ocean.
SA Police co-ordinated a search and rescue effort on Sunday which included Polair and local surf lifesaving and search and rescue, but the teenager is yet to be found.
Search efforts continued early on Monday morning but were impacted by dangerous weather conditions, eventually concluding at night.
The search will resume on Tuesday.
Mehdi, along with his brother and mother had only just arrived in Adelaide as refugees last year to live with their father.
The family who are originally from Afghanistan, lived in Pakistan before moving to Blair Athol in South Australia.
According to The Advertiser, they were celebrating their first Father’s Day together in 14 years.
The teenager’s aunty, Fahima Habibi, said the family are distraught.
“Everyone is worried, everyone is not sleeping,” she told the publication. “Everyone is upset.”
Family friend Abdullah Fakhri described Mehdi as a “good” and “very caring” teenager.
“At this stage everyone is hoping the rescue team will find Mehdi.”
SA Police Inspector Gene Vaninetti said Mehdi was struck from behind by a large wave and appeared “in distress” in the water, before he disappeared into the ocean.
“There were several helicopters in the air last night (Sunday), SES, volunteer marine rescue, national parks personnel and police.”
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Inspector Vaninetti extended condolences to the family on behalf of police and emergency services.
“The family are extremely devastated. They are still on the island under the guidance of police … but naturally they are devastated.”
Granite Island has been closed to the public.
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