Tourists traveling to Bali are being urged by the island’s security and rescue agencies to take safety seriously.
The calls follow emergency response teams’ two dangerous rescue missions in just one week.
The first major rescue mission took place at Banyumala Waterfall in North Bali on Friday, 24th October. Speaking to reporters, Buleleng Police Public Relations Chief, First Inspector Yohana Rosalin Diaz, confirmed the incident.
She explained that it occurred last Friday at around 11 am local time, at the Banyumala Waterfall. She explained, “According to the Head of the Banyumala Waterfall Group, the Russian tourist slipped from a rock and fell. As a result, she suffered leg injuries and is suspected to have a spinal injury.”
Diaz took the time to confirm the incident to the media after misinformation was believed to have been spread online.
The tourist fell 5m, and an emergency response was immediately carried out by eyewitnesses, local community members, and tourism attraction staff.
The woman was taken to Semara Ratih Tabanan Hospital within one hour of the incident. Diaz told reporters, “In fact, the victim did not fall from a cliff, but slipped on a rock. We confirm that the person concerned has been evacuated safely.”
Tourists visiting the waterfall are urged to listen to the safety guidelines and not take undue risks. It is essential that all tourists have full comprehensive travel and health insurance before traveling to Bali.
Tourists must also ensure that they are familiar with what is and is not covered by their policy, as well as the process for making a claim.
It is highly advisable that tourists keep the contact details of their insurance provider in their day bag or wallet in case of an emergency.
This is because, in all too many cases in Bali, emergency and even life-saving treatment for patients is not given until the hospital has confirmation that the patient in question has insurance and that their policy covers the treatment.
The second major incident that took place this week was recorded at Atuh Beach in Nusa Penida. A 58-year-old American tourist broke her left arm after tripping and falling 5m from the cliffside on Tuesday, 28th October.
The woman, known by her initials AW, was attended to by medical personnel from the Nusa Medika Clinic who were dispatched to the scene to provide initial assistance.
Due to the steep terrain and narrow access route to Atuh Beach along the uneven stairway, the evacuation required assistance from the Joint Search and Rescue Team.
Cakra Negara, Coordinator of the Nusa Penida SAR Alert Unit, explained to reporters that the call was received by the Denpasar Search and Rescue Office at around 4.20 pm from the Nusa Medika Clinic.
Negara told reporters, “The victim slipped about five meters and complained of severe pain in his left arm. Because he couldn’t walk up the stairs himself, the SAR team came down carrying a stretcher.”
Six officers from the Nusa Penida Search and Rescue Unit were deployed to Atuh Beach, along with the Nusa Penida Police, the Indonesian Navy Post, the Pejukutan Babinsa from the local village, and the AW’s relatives.
After a challenging journey over steep terrain for approximately one kilometer, AW was successfully evacuated on a stretcher to the parking lot at 6 pm, where she was then taken by ambulance to the Nusa Medika Clinic for further treatment.
Speaking separately, Nusa Penida Police Chief, AKP I Ketut Kesuma Jaya SH, confirmed the incident and urged tourists to be more careful when exploring popular tourist attractions with extreme routes such as Atuh Beach and Diamond Beach in Nusa Penida’s Pejukutan Village. “Tourist safety is our priority. We continue to coordinate with management to pay attention to safety factors and strengthen warning signs on steep stairs. This is important for us to emphasize so that similar incidents do not happen again.”
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