An Australian tourist sustained serious injuries after falling off a motorbike from a bridge while vacationing on Nusa Lembongan island.
Sharin Marie Lewis and her companion had come to the island to celebrate her 59th birthday. However, their trip on a rented Honda Vario from Lembongan harbor to neighboring Nusa Ceningan nearly ended in tragedy.
The Queensland woman was crossing the Yellow Bridge, which connects Lembongan and Ceningan, on her rented motorbike. As she was nearing the end of the bridge, the bike’s brakes suddenly failed, causing her to fall into the ocean along with the motorbike.
She landed on a reef and sustained a serious hip injury. Witnesses quickly pulled the foreigner and the motorbike to shore.
Sharin Lewis was rushed to the East Medical Center on Lembongan and later evacuated to BIMC Hospital in Nusa Dua. She was diagnosed with an open wound on her right hip.
This incident highlights the ongoing concerns from Indonesian government officials about the need to modernize the marine and medical infrastructure on the Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan islands. Plans are in place to create a floating ambulance service to respond more swiftly to emergencies in this popular area and to raise safety standards at tourist attractions, which are seeing increasing numbers of visitors.
Bali.Live reminds visitors that checking the brakes is the first thing to do when renting a motorbike. The brake levers should not feel loose, and when in good working order, they should easily return to their original position. If the brakes feel too stiff, sink with no resistance, or don’t return properly, they are faulty and the bike should not be rented.
Pay attention to the overall condition of the scooter. If it looks worn out, any critical component could fail at any moment. Don’t cut corners—rent a bike that feels reliable. This is especially important on islands with challenging terrain like Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan. When renting at the harbor, be particularly cautious, as the high turnover of rentals often means owners push their scooters to the limit without investing in repairs. Tourists are often offered heavily worn Vario or Scoopy models.
It’s also important to remember that when descending steep slopes on a motorbike, you should alternate between the front and rear brakes. Otherwise, they could overheat and fail.
Another critical factor is tire condition—don’t rent a bike with minimal or worn-out tread, as this can lead to poor traction and dangerous situations. Even the best brakes won’t help in such cases.
Sources: TribuneNews, BaliExpress
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