Australian Skipper Tells of Terrifying Indonesian Tsunami

“Everyone was yelling out, come on and go, and once he was on I got out,” he said.

Mr Clarke said he had not felt the first earthquake, which measured 7.7, and struck at 9.42pm yesterday (1.42am AEDT today). He said three more aftershocks had followed, which he had felt in the boat – from 3.30am and the last one at 6am today.

The earthquake and aftershocks have devastated areas of the Mentawai island chain, off Padang in Sumatra. Mr Clarke has been working in the Mentawai Islands for the past six years and he said this was “by far” the worst experience of his life.

This was to have been his last trip of the season before heading to Thailand. It was to have been the Midas’s last day of the surfing season yesterday as well. The two boats had been on 11-day charters.

“Everyone is alive, Thank God. It was very full on,” Mr Clarke said.

He said he was now “jaded”.

“I have got six guests on the boat, from Sydney, Clovelly. They are all fine, they are bit rattled but they are fine.”

Mr Clarke said all of those involved now just wanted to get home as soon as possible.