Search and rescue mission underway after Australian man disappears off Balian Beach in Bali
Rescue crews are frantically searching for an Australian man who was last seen swimming in “extreme conditions” at a Bali beach.
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Fears are growing for a Australian man in his 50s who is missing after being swept away by an “extreme” wave off a Bali beach while trying to save another swimmer.
Craig Laidley, 56, was walking on Balian Beach in Tabanan, on Bali’s mid-west coast, when he jumped into the rough water to save a German swimmer who was calling for help around 7.15pm AEDT (4.15pm Bali time) on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old German man, Micro Stalla, survived but Mr Laidley was swept out by the current and reported missing to police around 9pm AEDT.
Indonesian police said search and rescue team had been looking for Mr Laidley for nearly 24 hours.
“Last night our team tried to search for the victim by combing the mainland and today the Denpasar Search and Rescue Office deployed 10 people divided on land and sea,” Denpasar Search and Rescue Office head Nyoman Sidakarya said.
“Information from the team at the location is that the wave conditions are extreme,” he added.
Today, rescue teams, dressed in orange swimsuits, could be seen trekking across the shore as they focused their search on a 6km zone from east to west from the last known location of Mr Laidley at Balian Beach.
Balian Beach is approximately a three-hour drive north of Kuta, the popular Bali tourist haven well-known for it’s party atmosphere and surfing in the Indian Ocean.
The beach is roughly the same distance from Denpasar International Airport, making the coastal location a popular place among foreign tourists.
Balian Beach is also popular among surfers who are looking for a lesser known location off the beaten path.
It’s understood Mr Laidley was staying in a villa in the area.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has been contacted for comment.
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Originally published as Search and rescue mission underway after Australian man disappears off Balian Beach in Bali
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