A New Zealander was pulled out to sea at Bali’s Nusa Penida island when he was trying to save his girlfriend.
The couple were in a group of people taking photos at the popular tourist spot Angel’s Billabong, a natural infinity pool, on Monday morning, when suddenly, big waves smacked into them, according to local reports. Nusa Penida is a small island that lies southeast of the mainland, in Bali’s Klungkung Regency.
The waves apparently took German woman, LH, 20, over the edge into the sea.
“She was screaming for help, wounded, and nobody could do anything because the next wave was already on its way,” a witness told Newshub.
Seeing his girlfriend hit, kiwi TJS, 23, dove into the water after her, she added.
“Besides this couple, there were more people around there and who got seriously injured. An Indonesian girl bumped her head onto the rocks, fortunately she survived and has been brought to the hospital,” the witness, who lives in Bali, said.
While LH was ultimately rescued by an Australian snorkeler, TJS has been missing since he dove into the sea, says Nusa Penida Police Chief Commissioner Ketut Suastika.
The search for TJS was reportedly called off on Monday night, but was set to continue at daybreak on Tuesday.
The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade says it is in touch with the family.
This is not the first incident we’ve had at Angel’s Billabong in recent times. While the natural feature is stunning and is a favorite spot for photos, it sure can be dangerous. In June 2016, two people died at Angel’s Billabong when a woman honeymooning in Bali was similarly swept out to sea over the edge of the pool, along with her eight-year-old sister.
