The mother of one of four Australian surfers who went missing on a boat off Indonesia has described the "unbelievable" moment she heard her daughter's voice and knew she was safe.
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Steph Weisse, Elliot Foote, Will Teagle and Jordan Short spent 36 hours at sea floating on surfboards after the boat they were on capsized in wild weather.
Jill Weisse, mum of Steph, said she initially thought someone had phoned to deliver bad news on August 15.
"I heard Wayne just scream upstairs... and then I heard him laughing and then I heard him say 'Hey Steph'," she told the Today show.
"I just was overcome with emotion to hear her voice."
Her daughter, Mr Teagle and Mr Short were the first to be rescued with footage showing the moment the surfers were spotted floating on their surfboards in the sea.
But the elation quickly turned to more concern as Mr Foote, who's 30th birthday the trip was organised to celebrate, was not with the group after paddling off to seek help.
Those fears were allayed by a text his dad Peter received about midday on August 15.
"Hey Dad, Elliot here. I'm alive, safe now, love you. Chat later," said Peter Foote, reading the text aloud to reporters at his NSW home.
The four Australians were aboard a wooden speed boat with three crew members off the west coast of Indonesia when it was hit by bad weather on August 13.
One of the Indonesian crew members is still missing and search and rescue efforts are continuing.
Mr Foote earlier confirmed the news that three of the friends had been rescued about midday on August 15.
"My son paddled off to get help, left the group... so he's yet to be recovered but the yachtsman that found them has gone after him so I'm expecting a call anytime now," he said.
Mr Foote said an ex-pat Australian living in the area had found the three surfers after he volunteered to join the search with his yacht.
"They found Steph just bobbing there on her surfboard - she's a bit rattled as you would be," Mr Foote said.
"I don't know what happened to the boat or the two Indonesian crew who were driving the boat."
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The four Aussies were part of a bigger group of 12 travellers heading from Nias island, around 150km from Indonesia's Sumatra island, to Pinang Island.
The others travelled in another boat that sought shelter from the weather before arriving safely to Pinang Island.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade had earlier confirmed a search and rescue operation for the missing boat was under way.
And the families of the missing Aussies said they had continued to pray and hold out hope their loved ones would be found.
"Our hearts are aching at the thought that Elliot, Steph, Will and Jordan are missing at sea," they said in a statement earlier.
"We'd like to thank the Indonesian authorities and the Australian Government for their ongoing assistance while search and rescue efforts continue.
"We ask that the media respect the privacy of our family and friends during this distressing time."
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was providing consular assistance to the families of the four Australians on board and working closely with Indonesian authorities to support search and rescue efforts.
"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those missing during this distressing time."
With Australian Associated Press
