Indonesian teenager survives 49 days adrift at sea

The wooden fish hut he was employed to mind slipped its moorings.

An Indonesian teenager has survived 49 days adrift at sea.

Aldi Novel Adilang worked as a lamp keeper on a floating fish trap, one of the loneliest jobs in the world.

Image Credit: Consulate General of Republic of Indonesia in Osaka

The traps, which are shaped like huts and anchored to the seabed by ropes, are located over 100km out at sea.

The 18 year old's job had been to light the trap's lamps, which are designed to attract fish.

Every week, a colleague would come to harvest the fish from the traps and deliver him fresh food, water and fuel.

However, heavy winds in mid-July caused the moorings of  Aldi's hut to snap, casting the teen adrift.

Image Credit: Consulate General of Republic of Indonesia in Osaka

He was rescued off Guam by a Panamanian vessel, about 1,930km from his original location.

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

Aldi said he turned on a lamp every time he saw a ship and cannot remember how many passed by “unaware of my ordeal”.