Authorities in Bali are urging tourists to be cautious while swimming. Recently, another vacationer fell victim to the ocean. The tragedy occurred with an Indonesian tourist from Jakarta, 61-year-old Yusuf S.B., who was swimming with his grandson at Double Six Beach in Seminyak. They were splashing around in shallow waters, not venturing far out.
Around 6:00 PM, Yusuf was swimming with his grandson. Soon, the boy went back to the shore to snack, while the man decided to stay in the water for a little longer. A witness and his grandson warned Yusuf to be careful as the waves were getting bigger. Just at that moment, a wave suddenly struck, rolling over the man and pulling him into the ocean. Yusuf disappeared from sight in an instant.
For several minutes, the witness searched for the missing man in the waves independently, but eventually sought help from lifeguards. The search continued until late into the night, but without success. The victim's body was found the next morning, farther north from where he was last seen.
Unfortunately, this is not the first case of a tourist's death on Seminyak Beach. Although the popular coastline may seem calm and serene, vacationers are threatened by sudden large waves and rip currents. Sometimes, even if you're just sitting in shallow water, a sudden wave can knock you over and pull you into deeper water. If you're unsure about handling this, only swim in safe areas, typically marked by flags. Also, remember that waves are unpredictable. Even if the surf was gentle and relatively calm before, a powerful wave can suddenly come crashing in.
Keep an eye on yourself and your loved ones swimming in the ocean. If your friend went swimming alone in rough waves, periodically check where they are. Even experienced surfers, equipped with a floatation device like a surfboard, sometimes fall victim to the elements. For example, on March 4th, Australian tourist G drowned. He and two friends went surfing at Grajagan Beach in Banyuwangi on the island of Java, a few kilometers from Bali. Just 15 minutes after the start of the surf session, G's friends found his lifeless body in the water, still strapped to his board.
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