A Chinese tourist drowned at Bali’s Nusa Penida after getting dragged out to sea while taking a selfie.
Chinese national Qiuwei Anhui was killed on Sunday morning when he had visited Angel’s Billabong, a natural ocean-side infinity pool on Nusa Penida, a small island in Bali’s Klungkung Regency off the mainland’s southeastern coast.
The 46-year-old had been in the process of taking a selfie with his friend on the edge of the cliff, understood to be about 10 meters high, at Angel’s Billabong when a wave crashed into the two and pulled them out to sea.
“Upon arriving at Angel’s Billabong Beach, the victim and his friend, Emeli Seth, a Dutch national, took a selfie with a sea view of the Indian Ocean,” Klungkung Police Insp. spokesman I Nyoman Sarjana told Tribun Bali.
“The wife of the victim shouted for help,” Sarjana said.
Seeing what happened, the group’s driver, Balinese man I Kadek Sinta jumped in and managed to save Seth but rough, choppy waters sent Qiuwei too far out.
The man’s body was evacuated by a boat from the Lembongan Dive Center. Qiu was allegedly already dead when pulled out of the water.
His body was taken to Crystal Bay Beach then referred to Pratama Nusa Penida Hospital, where he was officially declared dead.
Medical examiners found the flesh of the Chinese man’s leg was torn and there were scratches on both his hands and back.
“Tourists should be more careful traveling around the sea, especially when tidal waves tend to be large,” Sarjana warned.
While Angel’s Billabong is a striking natural attraction, it can be quite dangerous. People have died before there, similarly getting pulled out to sea, when swimming in the natural pool.
The swell in Bali over the past couple weeks has been particularly strong and conditions in Nusa Penida have been no exception, with one viral video recorded last week showing just how massive the waves get.
