Australian children in sea ordeal

The three children were experienced swimmers

Three children have been found on a remote island in northern Australia, six days after their dinghy sank in choppy seas.

The children, aged between 10 and 15, swam to safety, and survived on coconut milk and shellfish.

But their parents and a younger brother are missing in the Torres Straits. "We have considerable concerns for their welfare," the authorities said.

The family set off from Badu Island to attend a birthday party on 6 July.

They were heading for Thursday Island, a trip that usually takes just a few hours.

Weak

But the boat's engine failed and the dinghy capsized.

The children - girls aged 10 and 15 and their 11-year-old brother - said their father told them to swim to a small island while he and their mother stayed with the little boy.

They swam to a series of rocky outcrops, each separated by wide open stretches of sea and eventually made it to the tiny island of Matu.

"They kept looking back and they could see their mum and dad in the water until a good distance away and then when they looked back they couldn't see them anymore," their aunt said, quoted by the AFP news agency.

They were all shivering and really weak Children's aunt

"They started swimming on Friday, according to the older sister... and finally they reached the smaller island yesterday [Monday] morning with their last strength," Wendy Phineasa said.

"Then they saw their uncle in a dinghy coming towards them and they started waving and shouting with all their might and heart and they were seen.

"They were all shivering and really weak, and they just ran to him and hugged him and started crying."

The authorities are looking for the father, Naseli Nona, his wife Lisa and their three-year-old son.

"We are hoping they have made it to a rocky outcrop or island," said Australian Maritime Safety Authority spokesman Ben Mitchell.