Selfies Vs Safety: Bali Tourists Urged To Pose Safely At Famous Landmarks

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A Russian tourist in Bali has sustained serious injuries after slipping on coral while taking a selfie at a popular beach in the east of the province.

The injuries were so serious that the tourist had to receive emergency medical treatment on the beach before being transferred to a local hospital. 

The Head of Public Relations of Karangasem Police, Iptu I Gede Sukadana, confirmed that a 27-year-old Russian woman, known by her initials AA, had sustained serious injuries after falling on coral at Bias Tugel Beach in Padangbai in East Bali, at around 2 pm on Saturday 5th April 2025.

AA is reported to have been enjoying a perfectly normal day out at the beach and had chosen to stand on a rock to take a photo to commemorate the moment when she was hit by a big wave that knocked her into the water and onto the coral bed below. 

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Iptu Sukadana told reporters, “As a result of the incident, the victim suffered a tear wound on the upper right side of the head and a blister wound on the right thigh. The condition at that time was in a conscious state.”

AA was supported by members of the public, the Padangbai Port Police, and the local Barsarnas Health Team, and she was transferred to the local Penta Medica Manggis Clinic for initial medical treatment before finally being referred to RSU Kasih Ibu Hospital in Gianyar Regency. 

Iptu Sukadana urged the public to be extremely mindful of their surroundings when taking photos and selfies in Bali’s natural landscapes.

High waves, steep ravines, rocky cliffside and fast flowing rivers have claimed the lives of dozens of tourists over the years and injured hundreds more. 

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For AA and the injuries sustained due to contact with coral, the healing process may not be straightforward. Unlike abrasions, cuts and wounds caused on terra firma cuts caused by coral can take a long time to heal, and can trigger nasty side effects.

As explained by the Divers Alert Network “Foreign material [from the coral entering the body] can prolong the wound-healing process since the different antigens and substances cause an acute inflammatory process and infection. Cuts and scrapes from sharp-edged coral and barnacles tend to fester and may take weeks or even months to heal.”

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The Divers Alert Network urge that “proper wound cleaning is crucial.”

With coral cuts, scrapes and wounds. The first aid advice they suggest is as follows: “Scrub the cut vigorously with soap and water and then flush the wound with large amounts of water. Flush the wound with a half-strength solution of hydrogen peroxide in water. Rinse again with water.”

Steps one and two should be followed by applying “a thin layer of antiseptic ointment, and cover the wound with a dry, sterile and non-adherent dressing. If you have no ointment or dressing, you can leave the wound open. Clean and re-dress the wound twice a day.”

In the event of a coral cut,  scrape, or wound in Bali, anywhere in Indonesia, or around the world, seeking medical attention is advised, even for small wounds. 

This weekend’s incident goes to show that safety must remain a number one priority all across Bali and that accidents can happen at any time.

Bias Tugel Beach, much light neighboring Padangbai Beach and Blue Lagoon Beach has an expansive coral bed that sits beneath the shallow waters, making it ill-advisable to enter the water, especially at low tide. It is a timely reminder to tourists that accidents and injury can happen even in the seemingly safest of destinations.

Famously landmarks like Kelingking Beach, Diamond Beach, Angel’s Billabong, and Devil’s Tear, as well as the cliff tops of Uluwatu have seen the most amount of injuries to tourists who have tripped, fallen, or been swept away while taking selfies or posing for photos. 

Tourists are urged to always be aware of their surroundings and to ensure they have fully comprehensive medical and travel insurance before traveling to Bali.

Tourists should keep their insurance details easily available at all times, especially as medical providers in Bali are unlikely to proceed with treatment before confirming insurance cover, even in life-and-death emergency situations.