An Algerian national was rescued by fishermen in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) last Saturday, after he was found floating in the Timor Sea in an attempt to swim from East Timor to Australia.
“When he was found by local residents, this Algerian man was extremely weak,” Albert Neno, chief of Malaka Police, told reporters yesterday.
According to reports, the man, who is identified as Haminoumna Abdul Rahman, embarked on a swimming journey to Australia from East Timor, after realizing that his visa had expired and was short on money to extend it.
He first arrived in East Timor last month, and had been staying in the capital city of Dili. He then swam in the ocean in an attempt to reach the land down under.
However, big waves and bad weather carried Rahman to NTT, where he was stranded in Malaka regency — some 200 kilometers from Dili by land — on Saturday evening.
He was then rescued by fishermen from Malaka regency’s Kletek village and immediately taken to the local hospital to receive treatment, as he reportedly almost passed out when found.
Rahman has since recovered and was taken to the immigration office in Atambua for questioning on Monday, according to a report from state news agency Antara.
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