Adelaide teenager feared drowned at Granite Island was on Father’s Day picnic
A teenager swept off the rocks at a popular South Australian tourist destination has been identified as 17-year-old Mehdi Habibi.
Habibi was on a Father’s Day picnic with his family in Victor Harbour, 83km south of Adelaide, on Sunday when he wandered onto rocks at Granite Island.
He was struck by a large wave at about 3pm, and pulled into the ocean.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.A multi-agency search involving PolAir and local surf lifesaving has been ongoing since Sunday, but has not located Habibi.
The search party was forced to pause on Monday afternoon because of dangerous surf conditions, but will resume on Tuesday.
Video of Habibi’s last moments was shared with 7NEWS, showing large waves lashing the rocks he was climbing.
His 14-year-old brother Sahil, who was with him at the time, said Habibi asked him to take a photo of him posing on the rocks, but then he was swept into the water.
The Blair Athol family are distraught and heartbroken.
“(His mother is) very, very upset … everyone is upset,“ Habibi’s aunty, Fahema Habibi, said.
“Everyone is worried. Everyone is not sleeping.”
Habibi arrived in Australia with his family from Pakistan less than seven months ago in search of a better life.
He could not swim, but it’s unclear whether he read or understood the warning signs on the rocks.
Originally published on 7NEWS
