An Indonesian teenager who survived 49 days adrift at sea after the wooden fish trap he was employed to mind slipped its moorings says he ran out of food within a week and survived on fish and seawater he squeezed from his clothing.

　　Aldi Novel Adilang and his wooden fish trap. [Photo: AP]

　　Aldi Novel Adilang told The Associated Press on Monday that he turned on a lamp every time he sighted another ship and can't remember how many passed by "unaware of my ordeal."

　　The Indonesian Consulate in Osaka, Japan, said the 18-year-old was rescued by a Panamanian-flagged vessel off Guam on August 31, about 1,200 miles (1,920 kilometres) from his original location, and returned to Indonesia with officials earlier this month.

　　Aldi Novel Adilang is rescued by a Panamanian-flagged vessel off Guam on August 31, about 1,200 miles (1,920 kilometres) from his original location. [Photo: AP]

　　He was employed since age 16 in the one of the world's loneliest jobs: lamp lighter on a rompong - a wooden raft with a hut on top that's lit at night to attract fish - moored about 125 kilometres (78 miles) off the coast of North Sulawesi.

　　The coastline is not visible from the fishing rafts and the numerous rompong are miles apart, said Adilang's mother, Net Kahiking.

　　Supplies including food and fuel for a generator are dropped off about once a week.

　　The minders, who earn 130 US dollars a month, communicate with fishing boats by hand-held radio.

　　Adilang said he was on the raft for one month and 18 days and his food ran out after the first week.

　　When it didn't rain for days he soaked his clothes in the sea to squeeze water out of them to drink.

　　The boy's father, Alfian Adilang, said the family is overjoyed at his return but angry with his employer.

　　It was the third time the teen's raft had drifted.

　　The rafts are anchored with ropes and Aldi Adilang said strong friction caused them to break.

　　Adilang's portable radio, known as a handy-talky or HT in Indonesia, would prove to be his lifesaver.

　　He used it to send a message to a passing ship which went by but then turned back for him on August 31.

　　Adilang, who is the youngest son of four siblings, said he no longer wants to work on a rompong.