News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

Aldi-Novel-Adilang-main_article_image.jpg
Indonesian Consulate General Osaka/Facebook
World News

Indonesian teen survives 49 days adrift without paddle, but with Bible

by Press Association

Aldi Novel Adilang said he ran out of food within a week and survived on fish and seawater he strained through his clothing.

The 18-year-old added that he turned on a lamp every time he sighted a ship and cannot remember how many passed by "unaware of my ordeal".

 

Interviewed by local news portal TribunManado, Aldi said he thought he "was going to die out there". He said at one point he became suicidal and considered jumping into the ocean, but remembered his parents' advice to pray in times of distress. He had a bible on board so he did.

He was rescued by a Panamanian-flagged vessel off Guam on August 31, about 1,200 miles from his original location, and returned to Indonesia with officials earlier this month, according to the Indonesian consulate in Osaka, Japan.

The teenager had been employed since the age of 16 in one of the world's loneliest jobs: lamp lighter on a rompong - a wooden fishing raft with a hut on top - moored about 78 miles off the coast of North Sulawesi.

The coastline is not visible from the fishing rafts and the numerous rompong are miles apart from one another, said Mr Adilang's mother, Met Kahiking.

Supplies are dropped off to the light keepers about once a week.

Consulate General of Indonesia

"I was on the raft for one month and 18 days. My food ran out after the first week," said Mr Adilang.

When it did not rain for days "I had to soak my clothes in the sea, then I squeezed and drank the water", he said.

The teenager's father, Alfian Adilang, said the family is overjoyed at his return but angry with his employer.

The rafts are anchored with ropes and Mr Adilang said strong friction caused them to break.

"I thought I will never meet my parents again, so I just prayed every day," he said.

The MV Arpeggio, which rescued Mr Adilang off Guam, contacted the Indonesian mission in Osaka when it docked and officials collected him on September 6, the Osaka consulate said in a statement.

He returned to Indonesia on 8th September.

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate