Kiwi captain rescues 'last survivor'

A New Zealand sea captain picked up an Indonesian tsunami victim who spent 14 days floating at sea living on rain water and coconuts.

John Kennedy, 62, captain of the German-owned Al Yamamah container ship, helped on Sunday to rescue Ari Afrizal, 21, who had drifted 300km into the Indian Ocean since the December 26 tsunami.

"The third officer said, 'I can see a house floating in the distance'. The question was whether to steam back around 4 miles and check. The ship was already behind schedule," Captain Kennedy said by email.

"I decided to check it out on the 1 per cent chance there would be anybody there 14 days after the tsunami."

The house turned out to be a fishing raft with a little shelter on top.

"There was no sign of life so we blew our whistle and to our amazement Ari came out of the shelter.

"This guy must surely be one of the last survivors of the tsunami.

"We came alongside the raft, threw a line to him and drifted him down to the pilot ladder which he climbed up without assistance.

"He immediately asked for food by gesticulating, as he had no English. There was a lot of rain after the tsunami so he was okay for water. That is what really saved him."

Mr Afrizal, who was from a town near Banda Aceh, was dropped off at Port Kelang near Kuala Lumpur after the crew made a collection of US$250 ($360) for him, Captain Kennedy said.

Mr Afrizal spoke briefly to reporters. "I ate the flesh of old coconuts for about 12 days. For three days I didn't get to eat anything," he said. "I gave up all hope of living."

Clutching a plastic bag containing the rags that were his clothes at the time of the tsunami, he wore a T-shirt and jeans donated by the ship's crew. Exhausted, he gave sketchy details of his ordeal before being taken by ambulance to hospital.

He was with friends building a house in Calang in Aceh province when the wave struck. It pushed them inland before dragging him out to sea, clutching a piece of wood.

He chanced upon a small leaking fishing boat on his second day in the water. "I was in the small boat for four days before I managed to get on a raft," he said.

Mr Afrizal said he waved frantically at several ships without success before the Arab-based Al Yamamah container ship came into view.

"I managed to whistle at the ship and then waved my hands. The ship sped on but it sounded the klaxon and I stood up. I thought the ship had left the area and I sat down and cried. But the ship returned and cheered me up," he said.

"I then waved at them as I knew I was safe."

- REUTERS