On Friday, 21st March, a tourist boat carrying eleven passengers, two tour guides, and crew members capsizes off the coast of Nusa Penida in Bali Province.
One Australian tourist died in the incident, and two more have been left severely injured.
The boat, known as Sea Dragon 2, departed from Sanur Port at around 8.30 am on the morning of Friday 21st March. More details about the incident are still coming to light.
The snorkeling trip tour was to take eleven tourists from Sanur to the top snorkeling points off the coast of Nusa Penida, including the world-famous Manta Point. According to reports from local police, the boat was hit by a series of extremely high and heavy waves, which capsized the boat.
The majority of the tourists aboard the boat were Australian, many of whom have been left traumatized by the ordeal. Tragically, during the incident, one Australian tourist, now known to be 39-year-old Anna Maree Blight, lost her life. Blight was in Bali celebrating her birthday. The two severely injured passengers have been named Gabriel Hijniakoff, 29, from Brisbane, and 32-year-old Cintamani Warrington.
Colleagues of Blight have paid their respects to an ‘exceptional leader’ in light of her passing. Speaking to the media, Cor Corids, the firm where she worked as a registered trustee and director for 19 years, shared, “Her dedication and expertise played an important role in the firm’s success, and she left a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of working with her.”
On survivor of the incident, Liisa Abel, was on board with her seven year old daughter. Liisa is reported to have found a single life jacket for her daughter moments before the boat capsized, as the waves were becoming increasingly dangerous.
Liisa explained “I have no idea how we are alive. The waves were four to five meters.” She confirmed that her daughter had also been trapped under the capsized boat with Blight before she managed to free herself and come up to the surface of the water. She continued “My child was with Anna, and she saw Anna scream something, and then you know what happened.”
Liisa concluded “I keep seeing the lady that died. I should have been able to save her. I should have been able to save the lady that died.”
New footage has emerged online of the moments before the boat capsized. The passengers on board can be seen and heard to become increasingly concerned about the tumultuous and rising waves. No one is wearing life jackets, and no life jacket can be seen on the boat. Later in the footage, a second boat can be seen coming to the rescue of Sea Dragon 2.
A life buoy is thrown towards a passenger treading water in the open ocean. Others can be seen clinging onto the overturned boat, and other floating debris.
A fundraiser has been launched to support the couple left severely injured in the incident Gabriel Hijniakoff and Cintamani Warrington.
The family has reported that Warrington has been left with extensive chemical burns over her body and “is currently undergoing urgent surgery and is currently receiving medical treatment in Bali after a tireless fight from abroad. Unfortunately, she is unable to speak due to the pain and her condition remains critical.”
The family is faced with additional struggles to coordinate medical treatment and the safe return of Hijniakoff and Warrington to Australia, as they lost essential personal belongings such as passports, phones, and wallets in the incident. Both have been said to be facing a ‘long recovery’.
Officials in Bali and Nusa Penida have issued a limited set of statements to the media regarding the incident.
The Head of Public Relations of Klungkung Police, AKP Agus Widiono, told reporters “The captain and crew immediately tried to save all passengers with the help of another snorkeling boat at the location.” He added, “Police officers are still investigating this incident.”
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