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Community Corner

Schumer, King Advocate in Search for Missing Surfer

Both lawmakers urge the government to assist in locating the Long Beach native.

Two lawmakers are now championing for the safe return of Daniel Bobis, the Long Beach High School teacher who went missing while surfing off the coast of southern Sumatra in Indonesia early Sunday morning.

After Bobis disappeared, his wife, Rachel, 28, desperately pleaded for assistance in the search effort from the local authorities and the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta to find her 32-year-old husband. Both Sen. Charles Schumer and Rep. Peter King have come to the aid of the distraught family, assisting in travel arrangements and urging the government to help with the search.

"I have made it abundantly clear to the State Department that no resource should be spared in the search for Mr. Bobis, no stone should be left unturned, and that Mr. Bobis' family must have every iota of assistance available from the U.S. Government during this difficult time,” said Sen. Schumer (D-New York) in a statement release from his office.

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Representative Peter King (R-Seaford) explained that he and his office have been working to help the Bobis family since early Sunday morning when they found out about the incident. They are assisting Gloria Bobis, his mother, in obtaining a new passport, as hers has expired, and a visa to Indonesia, he said.

Bobis’ wife and friend are currently at the Damai Bungalows located in the West Lampung province of Sumatra. According to friends, they will soon be joined by his father.

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“We have been in contact yesterday and today with the American Embassy in Indonesia to make sure that the search effort is going forward and to let them know that this is important,” Rep. King said.

He added that they have also been in contact about Bobis with people in Washington, D.C., including the State Department.

“He has a lot of friends, He is very active in the community, very well respected in the community,” Rep. King said. “My heart goes out to his friends and neighbors - it’s a horrible tragedy." 

King said that there were some difficlitues with the search yesterday because of the weather, but he “understands that there is cooperation and it is going forward.” He has asked the family if they have any concerns about the effort to look for Bobis, but they “seem to believe that everything that can be done is being done,” he added.

“I’m hoping for a miracle - that he is found and rescued,” Rep. King said. “I want his family to know that many people are praying for him.”

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