The search has been called off for a teenage refugee who was swept away by rocks while posing for a photo on Father’s Day.
Mehdi Habibi, 17, was last seen walking on the large rocks of Granite Island near Victor Harbour in South Australia on September 1, when a large wave swept him into the ocean.
The teenager and his family were visiting Adelaide when the tragedy occurred.
His devastated family has gathered at the site to closely monitor the search every day since, praying for a miracle.
After 10 days of searching the water, authorities called off the search for Mehdi on Wednesday night.
The large-scale search included police helicopters, specialist divers and drones to search rock cavities.
“Police would like to thank the volunteers and emergency services involved for their dedicated efforts during the 10-day operation,” a police statement said.
Mehdi’s father, Sayed, vowed to keep going to Victor Harbor in the hope of getting his son back.
Mehdi Habibi, 17, was filmed by his brother walking across large rocks on Granite Island in South Australia before a wave swept him out to sea.
Medhi, who obtained permanent residency in Australia last year, had dreams of becoming an electrician.
“I have to do it, what else am I supposed to do?” she asked Seven News.
‘I don’t like to work, I can’t do anything, I’m just walking back and forth in the area where he was last seen.
“My heart breaks when the day ends and he is not found.”
Mehdi’s mother spent several days in hospital due to the stress of her son’s disappearance.
“She is very nervous (emotionally), it is very difficult, she is a mother,” Habibi said.
Mehdi’s brother Sahil recorded on his phone the moment the teenager was hit by the wave as he tried to stand on the rock surface.
“My brother said ‘take a picture of me’ and I took his,” Sahil told Seven News last week.
Mehdi was swept into the ocean seconds later.
Mehdi Habibi’s family has spent the past 10 days watching the search and praying for a miracle.
The teenagers, originally from Afghanistan, arrived in Australia last year from Pakistan, where they were reunited with their father and other relatives.
From Medhi The family are refugees who fled Baghlan province in Afghanistan in 1998 while the country was under Taliban rule.
They lived for some time in Pakistan, where Mehdi was born, but then arrived by boat on Christmas Island in 2010.
However, it was only last year that the teenagers were granted permission to remain in Australia.
Mehdi was due to celebrate his birthday just a week after his disappearance. He wanted to study at TAFE, become an electrician and improve his life.
Every day after school, Mehdi helped run the family shop on Prospect Rd in Adelaide before coming home to do his chores.
The search for missing teenager Mehdi Habibi (pictured) ended on Wednesday evening
TO GoFundMe It was started for the family by the Adelaide Sisters Association charity.
“The Adelaide Sisters Association has realised the distress, pain and trauma that Mehdi’s father, mother, younger brother and family have endured during this time, as well as the loss of income as they continue to search daily for their son,” the page states.
‘We hope that by raising some funds for the family we can provide some relief and ease some of their stress and burdens during this already incredibly difficult time.
‘If you are unable to donate, we kindly ask for your prayers (dua) for Mehdi and his family as they go through this heartbreaking, painful and challenging situation.
The fundraiser has raised more than $2,600 in three days.
