Tourists visiting Bali are being reminded to make beach safety a top priority this Eid al-Fitr and beyond.
Bali is preparing to celebrate Nyepi Day and Eid al-Fitr later this week, and is set to welcome hundreds of thousands of people to the island’s top coastal resorts.
The calls for increased beach safety awareness come as Bali Search and Rescue Officers have confirmed the death of a British tourist on Nyang Nyang beach in Uluwatu. The tourist was spotted unconscious in the water by fellow tourists at 7.45 am on 15th March. The tourist tried to recover his body but was unable due to the strong waves and tidal currents at Nyang Nyang Beach.
The Head of the Denpasar Search and Rescue Office, I Nyoman Sidakarya, told reporters that his office received a report of the discovery of the body at around 8:20 am on Sunday morning. He noted, “The SAR standby officers on duty today received information from the Pecatu Babinsa (village supervisory officer) requesting assistance with evacuation because a body was found in the middle of the sea.”
The 39-year-old British tourist is believed to have been traveling to Bali alone, and is reported by his initials JJK. Sidakarya told reporters, “They carried the body up to the upper parking lot, then evacuated it to Prof. Ngoerah General Hospital using the AL MANDIRI Pecatu Ambulance.”
The evacuation was supported by the Denpasar Search and Rescue Office, the Denpasar Police Water Police, the South Kuta Police, the Pecatu Village Babinsa (village military officer), Pecatu Village officials, the South Kuta Balawista (tourist officer), and the tourists who were first on scene.
It is unclear what the circumstances were that led to JJK being in the water, but the tragedy comes as an all too sad call to action for tourists. Many of Bali’s most famous beaches are at risk of high waves and tidal currents. Though Nyang Nyang Beach is considered a safe beach, like much of the coastline around Uluwatu and the Bukit Peninsula, conditions can change in an instant.
Many of Bali’s most popular beaches do not have lifeguard stations or flag systems in place. Further than that, many of Bali’s most iconic beaches, including those over on Nusa Penida, have no swim zones in place.
As Bali begins welcoming an influx of tourists ahead of the Eid al-Fitr holidays later this week, Bali Search and Rescue has deployed additional officers to top resort areas and at-risk communities throughout the province.
The Denpasar Search and Rescue Office has confirmed that the 2026 Eid Special Search and Rescue Alert Operation will last 17 days, starting on 30th March 2026.
Speaking at the operation roll call event, Sidakarya confirmed that his team has 140 SAR personnel, complete with vehicles and supporting equipment, on standby.
All officers are prepared to respond quickly to any emergencies during the Eid al-Fitr holiday period.
He explained, “Every year, public mobility increases significantly during Eid, both for homecoming and tourism. Therefore, the readiness of SAR personnel and equipment needs to be increased to provide a rapid response in the event of an emergency.”
Sidakarya confirmed that in addition to being placed on standby around busy tourist areas, officers are also working in collaboration with security posts at Gilimanuk Port, Celukan Bawang Port, Padangbai Port, Benoa Port, as well as teams at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
Bali tourists are urged to report any incidents that pose a threat to life to the Barsarnas Call Center on 115. Sidakarya concluded, “With this special SAR alert, we are committed to providing the best service to the public so that homecoming trips and holiday activities can be safe, comfortable, and secure.”
Bali Police and the emergency services switchboard can be reached on 110.
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