A British traveler has gone missing following his disappearance from a Bali beach, raising concerns that he may have drowned at sea. Harrison Edward Nada Kontounas, 23, was last seen swimming with friends at Legian Beach when he was swept away by a strong tide on Wednesday. Despite his companions returning safely to shore, Kontounas struggled against 30 km/h winds. Rescue efforts involving helicopters and boats were immediately initiated to locate him.
The Denpasar Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas Bali) responded to the incident, with Search and Rescue Unit 1 (SRU 1) and another SRU dispatched to Legian Beach and Kelan Beach, respectively, deploying a rubber boat. Nyoman Sidakarya, Head of the Denpasar Search and Rescue Office, emphasized the importance of caution during outdoor activities, especially beach tourism. Search operations were hindered by challenging sea conditions, preventing the use of search and rescue equipment in the water.
Reports from a Facebook group for Australian travelers to Bali indicated that Kontounas was swept out to sea by a riptide and remained missing. Concerns were raised about the hazardous beach conditions in the area, with warnings about strong currents and undertows. Witnesses, including Abbey Maree, described the distressing search efforts by lifeguards and the difficult conditions at the time.
As of now, Harrison’s whereabouts are still unknown, and his status remains uncertain.