One of Bali’s most famous beach clubs is going above and beyond to support the people of Bali and the 7 million international tourists who visit the island each year.
FINNS Beach Club in Canggu has funded a Search and Rescue Helicopter to support the Bali Search and Rescue teams in their life-saving work.
FINNS Beach Club is perhaps the most famous beach club in all of Bali. FINNS have just launched their newly sponsored Search and Rescue helicopter in partnership with Sayap Garuda Indah (SGI), a Bali-based search and rescue organization that works alongside the Bali unit of the National Search and Rescue Agency known as Barsarnas.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Denpasar Class A Search and Rescue Agency (Barsarnas) and SGI, affirming the government’s full support for the collaborative humanitarian mission and operations.
The FINNS Search and Rescue Helicopter was launched on the 6th February with a full-scale live ocean rescue simulation. The helicopter performed a series of low-flying maneuvers and hoist operations, demonstrating the ability to evacuate victims without the need for a landing. The demonstration provided media crews and invited guests with a firsthand look at the technology and air safety standards currently available in Bali. Visitors at FINNS Beach Club and those on Berawa Beach could also watch the simulation as it unfolded.
Paul Hussey, the Chief Operations Officer of FINNS Beach Club, told reporters, “Safety is the foundation of everything we do at FINNS.” Adding “We are proud to fund and support this helicopter, and to work with SGI and Barsarnas to protect the local community and tourists who call Bali their second home.”
While FINNS Beach Club has funded the initial launch of the Search and Rescue Helicopter, the ongoing capacity of the service now depends on the continued support of public donations.
As explained by FINNS Search and Rescue, “Despite the generous sponsorship of FINNS Beach Club, funding this essential service remains a big challenge. The operating costs, including fuel, maintenance, training, staffing, etc., exceed $600,000 a year. Local government budgets, which have been stretched to breaking point, cannot cover these expenses. Without private donations, response times could lengthen, or responses might even have to stop entirely, risking lives.”
The team explained that travellers love to embrace the spirit of exploration in Bali, but that adventure brings its risks. Donating to our service aligns with the tradition of “gotong royong,” an Indonesian tradition of communal cooperation and harmony. It’s a contribution to the collective good.”
“Just $20 will help to fuel a short flight, $100 can equip a team with critical gear. Every contribution is used to enhance the service with updates provided regularly on this site of successful missions.”
FINNS Search and Rescue has confirmed that it is not only sea-based rescue missions that they will support, but life-saving evacuation work and emergency response all across the province.
The team shared, “Our services will currently cover a range of SAR requirements, such as aerial searches for missing persons, rapid response callouts to maritime distress, disaster relief coordination with local authorities, and emergency medical transport to hospitals.”
Adding “Whether it’s locating a stranded surfer off the coast of Uluwatu or evacuating an injured trekker from the slopes of Mount Agung, our helicopter is on standby, ready to respond once the call has been received. This will significantly reduce response times compared to ground-based efforts.”
Tourists traveling to Bali must ensure that they have fully comprehensive travel and medical insurance that covers both medical emergencies, emergency evacuation, and support in the event of natural disasters.
Tourists should read their policy document in full before traveling to Bali and understand how to file a claim in an emergency. It is highly advisable to make sure that the next of kin know where to find insurance documents and how to make a claim in the event that the policyholder is incapacitated.
Discover more from The Bali Sun
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.