A startling discovery sent ripples through the community when a human foot, measuring approximately 40 centimeters in length, was found along the shores of Penimbangan Beach in Singaraja on Friday.
Though the discovery of the human limb baffled the community and the authorities at first, the mystery has since been unraveled – the foot was discarded by the family of a diabetic patient following an amputation.
Buleleng Police Spokesman Gede Darma Diatmika confirmed the discovery today.
Initial police reports detailed the discovery of the neatly wrapped right foot in a yellow plastic bag at around 4pm on Friday. The bag was initially found by a local student who initially thought that it contained a pork feet.
The Investigators promptly secured the foot, still swathed in bandages, for further examination after conducting a thorough on-site investigation.
“To ensure accuracy, the right foot was temporarily secured and handed over to Buleleng Regional Hospital (RSUD Buleleng) for identification,” Darma said.
Following an investigation, it was revealed that earlier that Friday, a medical team at RSUD Buleleng had performed an amputation procedure on a 76-year-old man, identified by the initials MG, from Tajun Village in Buleleng.
To corroborate this account, police officers paid a visit to the patient’s family, in line with the official handover letter for organs/body tissues, a standard procedure conducted by hospitals.
A member of MG’s family confirmed that the right foot belonged to him. Following the amputation, the family chose to dispose of the wrapped foot, still encased in a yellow plastic bag, on the grounds of Penimbangan Beach.
Contacted separately, Buleleng Hospital director Arya Nugraha said yesterday that MG suffered from diabetes and required his right foot be amputated.
Buleleng Police’s spokesman Darma told Coconuts Bali that the MG’s family would not be fined despite the incident.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Added additional comments from Buleleng Police.
