Calls For Safety Renewed As Australian Toddler Drowned On Vacation In Bali

Share The Article

An investigation is underway in Bali after an Australian toddler died by drowning during a family vacation on the island.

The 3-year-old was staying at a private villa with her parents in the North Kerobokan area of Bali when she drowned on Thursday, 16th January. 

The Head of Public Relations of Badung Police, Ipda I Putu Sukarma, confirmed the series of events to the media on Saturday, 18th January, and revealed that an investigation is underway.

He said that the incident took place when the family was preparing to check out of the villa. The family are said to have asked for a late check out, and both parents are believed to be at the property when the incident took place. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Royal Life Saving Australia (@royallifesaving)

A member of staff from the villa, known by his initials R, has given a witness statement to the police. Sukarma explained, “The victim’s father asked for additional time, and the witness left them all. At that time, the witness (R) admitted to seeing the victim standing on the edge of the swimming pool on the east side.”

Sukarma explained how, two hours later, witness R returned to the victim’s room. R shared how he met an unknown woman and mana and noted that the two people stated that they were relatives of the family.

He noted, “The two people admitted to coming to the scene to collect the victim’s family’s belongings to be taken to the hospital because the victim was being treated at the hospital.” 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Royal Life Saving Australia (@royallifesaving)

The parents of the child are reported to have sent a text message to villa staff, around 3.20pm, to explain the tragedy and to ask for their bags to be removed from the villa.

Sukarma relayed, “An hour later, the victim’s father sent a message to the witness asking him to leave his suitcase and belongings until the evening and would pay an extra charge.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Royal Life Saving Australia (@royallifesaving)

Speaking to reporters, Dr. I Dewa Made Dwi Surya Rusdianta from the d’Square Medical Clinic confirmed that the family had rushed the toddler to the clinic and subsequently rushed to the BIMC Hospital via an ambulance, where she was confirmed to have passed away.

This tragedy is a terrifying reminder for families traveling to Bali to be hypervigilant when it comes to children, especially toddlers and babies, around bodies of water. In late October 2024, just three months ago, a 14-month-old Australian toddler also died by drowning at a private rental villa in North Kuta. 

Following the incident the CEO of Royal Life Saving Australia, Justin Scarr, shared potentially lifesaving advice to families going on vacation in destinations such as Bali.

Scarr explained “We’re very privileged and lucky to have very robust pool fencing regulations in Australia, and it’s protecting our children.” 

He revealed, “The growing rate of Australian children has reduced substantially in the last 30 years since those laws came in, but those laws don’t apply to many countries overseas – including Indonesia.”

Comprehensive advice and guidance on pool and water safety can be found on the Royal Life Saving Australia website, and Scarr advises families to get up to speed on first aid before traveling.

He shared ,”It’s a good idea for people to carry a first aid kit while traveling and freshen up their CPR skills. Quite often, in these holiday resorts and remote locations, if you’re called to do CPR in an emergency, it is lifesaving.”

Royal Life Saving Australia explains “Although children aged 0 to 4 years are at most risk, Royal Life Saving recommends some level of supervision for all children under 15. This ranges from being in the water, within arms’ reach and actively supervising children aged 0 to 4 years, actively supervising from the water’s edge for those aged 5 to 10 years and regularly checking up on those aged 11 to 14 years.”