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It was 36 nailbiting hours for the parents of four Aussie surfers missing at sea off the coast of Indonesia.
Steph Weisse, Will Teagle and Jordan Short were celebrating Elliot Foote's 30th birthday with a surf trip to Indonesia with eight others when their boat struck bad weather and they disappeared on Sunday night.
Families back in Australia received the call no parent wants to hear from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
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"I answered it and unfortunately the news was not good," Steph's father Wayne Weisse told 9News.
"They told me she was missing and three of her friends as well."
Her mum Jill Weisse said: "Straight away my blood turned cold and I thought, 'Oh god, what mess has she got into this time', and Wayne just started crying, saying, 'She is missing.'"
Mr Weisse said they felt hopeless waiting by the phone for updates on whether they would hear good news or the unthinkable.
Rescue teams launched into action on Sunday night after the group vanished in inclement weather.
But after nearly 40 hours, the families received the phone call they'd been praying for on Tuesday morning.
"(The boat captain) said, 'Wayne, I got someone here to talk to you' and it was my daughter and I heard her and she said, 'Hi Dad'," Mr Weisse said.
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For Foote's family, the wait for the joyous phone call was a little longer.
He wasn't found for a few hours after his friends.
Foote's father Peter said his son had paddled off on his surfboard and left the group to get help.
But after hours of anxious waiting, his utter joy was captured in the throngs of the media at his home in Sydney when he received a calm and collected text message from Elliot.
"Hey dad. Elliot here. I'm alive. Safe now!! Love you. Chat later," the text read.
Foote had paddled to a nearby surf resort and was located a few hours after his friends with a bad case of board rash but otherwise in good spirits.
Peter said it was "so typical" of his son to be relaxed after surviving the throes of the sea for nearly two days.
Despite the turmoil of the past two days, Mr Foote had always remained "optimistic" and held out hope the group would be found alive.
"What a scare he's put me through," he said.
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Similarly, for Teagle's sister, hope was never lost.
"They are all born and bred in the water," Amy said.
"Very competent thrillseekers. I hope they have enjoyed it more than we have."
Now the four mates are looking to head back to Australia, which will likely be a joyous reunion for the families after days of being worried sick.
