A 17-year-old tourist from China remains in a critical condition in hospital after falling on the Kelingking Beach Cliff Trail.
The treacherous hiking paths are considered to be the most dangerous in all of Bali Province, and despite warnings from leaders, guides, and the local community, tourists still attempt the cliffside traverse.
The Nusa Penida Police Chief, Ida Bagus Putra Sumerta, confirmed that the teenager was on holiday on the island with four other family members. Known only to the media by their initials RX, the teen and the family were accompanied to Kelingking Beach viewing point by their driver, Wayan Agus Wisnawan.
According to reports Wisnawan advised the family not to embark on the cliffside hiking trail due to the pathway being incredibly dangerous even for the most confident of hikers.
Sumerta told reporters, “The victim’s driver had previously warned him not to go down (to the beach) because the road was steep and dangerous. However, this foreigner insisted.”
Reports from the first responders on the scene say that RX slipped and fell on the rail; though they did not fall off the cliffside down to the beach below, they did tumble into the bracken and rocky outcrops of the cliffside, sustaining serious injuries.
Sumerta explained, “According to the medical team’s statement, the victims suffered injuries to the left of the head and the temples and had bruises accompanied by scratches. In addition, there are also scratches on the victim’s leg.”
Sumerta added, “When they were about to go down to the beach, [the tourist] fell and got stuck. They had many injuries, so they were immediately rushed to the Nusa Medika clinic.” Due to the extent of the injuries, RX was subsequently transferred to the BIMC Hospital in Kuta on the main island of Bali on a chartered boat.
It remains to be seen what RX’s road to recovery will look like. Tragically, this kind of incident has happened all too many times before.
Despite consistently being warned by their tour guides, tourism attraction managers, and the local community, tourists still attempt the hike down to Kelingking Beach.
There is, in fact, a ban in place to prevent the public from accessing the beach below. However, this is not strictly enforced, and many feel it is poorly communicated at the site, which results in many people attempting to traverse the dangerous coastal path.
More must be done to ensure public safety at Nusa Penida’s most famous and dangerous attraction.
Speaking earlier this month, the Head of the Klungkung Tourism Office, Ni Made Suliastiwati, said that she had installed safety fences and warning boards on several beaches in Nusa Penida, which have a high risk of accidents.
She said, “We have installed warning and swimming prohibition signs. We will increase this by placing security officers in vulnerable destinations.”
Public safety is a huge topic of conversation in Nusa Penida right now. Authorities on the island have just closed down a newly opened and illegally operating zipline adventure activity at Diamond Beach. The operation was closed down only after a young tourist got stuck halfway along the zipline cable.
Footage circulating online showed a young child suspend halfway across the 180m zipline, hanging 100m over the ocean. Thanks to quick thinking by the youngest they were able to swing their boudywieght to help nudge the roller along the cable line inch by inch until they were back to safety.
In a statement issued this week following the closure of the premises, the Head of the Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP) and the Klungkung Firefighter, Dewa Putu Suwabawa, explained that the zip line activity had been operating since the 2nd of July.
Suwabawa said, “When we called [the owner] to show him a beach tourism permit while his activities are man-made tourism activities, this flying fox is not suitable, so he has a permit but not according to his designation.”
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Friday 19th of July 2024
In Australia along the Great Ocean Road there is the "Twelve apostles", somewhat similar landscape to Nusa Penida south coast. To prevent accidents authorities have build walkways with safe height fencing along the cliffs.
What is stopping Bali authorities to do the same to safeguard visitor safety and also allow for photo ops?
Bali need to stop charging visitors money for nothing in return.