Tourists Death On Famous Bali Beach Is A Tragic Reminder For Holidaymakers 

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Tourists’ dream vacation in Bai ended tragically in Nusa Penida this week. A group of tourists from Qatar was swept out to sea from the iconic Kelingking Beach; two were injured, and one tragically lost their life in the waves. 

The three tourists were rolled by high and strong waves on the shoreline of Kelingking Beach in Nusa Penida.

The world-famous beach is not safe for swimming or paddling at any time.

Even if the waves look shallow, there is a strong and violent undercurrent, and regardless of tide, time, or water confidence, no one should be entering the water on Kelingking Beach. 

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Information revealed by the Bali Search and Rescue Team confirms that the incident took place on Tuesday 18th June at around 1pm local time. The trio were reported to have been swimming in the shallow waters off Kelingking Beach, when they were dragged out to the open ocean. 

The tourists, in their 30s and traveling from Qatar, were traveling as part of a group of eight people. They were visiting Kelingking Beach as part of a tour of Nusa Penida and were dropped off at the iconic landmark by a local driver.

There is signage at Kelingking Beach communicating that it is not safe to swim, and local guides in the area are often reminding tourists to adhere to the rules.

Most tourists who visit Kelingking Beach only visit the clifftop panoramic viewpoint. Far fewer brave the precious cliffside hiking trail down to the beach itself. 

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Speaking to reporters in the immediate aftermath of the incident, the Coordinator of the Nusa Penida SAR Alert Unit, Putu Cakra Negara, said that the evacuation was carried out after receiving information requesting evacuation assistance to the Denpasar Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas Bali) at 14.00 WITA.

Negara explained that Basarnas Bali (Search and Rescue Bali) dispatched five personnel from the Nusa Penida SAR Alert Unit to Kelingking Beach as soon as they got the call. After coordinating with the tourist group, it was agreed to evacuate by air. 

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Negara said, “Basarnas Bali coordinated with Helly Air Bali so that they could immediately evacuate the victim and other colleagues,” said Cakra. At 16.50 WITA, the tourists concerned were evacuated from Kelingking Beach and taken to Hellypad Air Bali at Benoa Harbor, Denpasar.

Two of the tourists who were swept out to sea were saved for water, having sustained survival injuries, while one individual was already deceased despite best efforts from the SAR team. The SAR team deemed that the evacuation process went smoothly.

The victims were evacuated to the Bali Mandara Denpasar General Hospital using the Bali Mandara Hospital ambulance. 

The whole operation was coordinated by the joint SAR team from Basarnas Bali (Nusa Penida SAR Alert Unit), TNI AL, Klungkung BPBD, Nusa Penida Police, Nusa Medika Clinic, and the local community. 

Nusa Penida Police Chief, Police Commissioner Ida Bagus Putra Sumerta, has been able to share a few more details about the situation with the public.

He explained, “The witness (tour guide) became worried and tried to find information regarding his guest who had come down to the beach until finally, the witness received information that the guest he was accompanying had died, allegedly because he was rolled by a wave while swimming.”

Tourists planning their visits to Nusa Penida must be aware that the island’s most famous beaches are not safe to swim in; these include Kelingking Beach and Diamond Beach.

While the waters may look crystal clear and, at times, calm and enticing, every year, there are dozens of reports of tourists who get swept out to sea from these shorelines.

While Bali’s Search and Rescue teams respond as quickly as possible, in the majority of cases, the high and violent waves along this stretch of coast claim the lives of tourists in an instant.