‘Tsunami like’ wave kills new bride, her body returned to grieving husband

A COUPLE’S Bali honeymoon has ended in tragedy after a freak wave dragged the pair into the ocean, the new bride unable to make it back to shore.

THE body of Perth woman Lestari Williams was last night returned to her grieving husband and family after the couple’s Bali honeymoon ended in tragedy when a freak wave dragged them into the ocean.

Brad Williams, with his wife Lestari, and a group of people were dragged into the ocean on the Balinese island of Nusa Penida by what police said was a “tsunami like” wave.

The Perth man managed to make it back to shore but his new wife Lestari and her eight-year- old niece were dragged out and could not be saved.

Australian Brad Williams helping the family to hold his wife's body as it arrives to their home in Nusa Penida island in Bali. Picture: Lukman S Bintoro/ News Corp

Late yesterday a grim-faced Mr Williams helped bring his wife’s body back to her family’s compound.

Shrouded in a brown-coloured sarong and with a traditional Hindu offering sitting on top, Lestari’s body was unloaded on a stretcher from an ambulance and carried into the family compound by family members.

The body of Lestari Williams has begun the long journey home. Picture: Channel 9.

A heartbroken Mr Williams then helped bring the body into the house as female family members cried and embraced. He did not want to comment to the media about his loss.

IT is understood that Lestari will be buried at midnight on Sunday night. Sunday is a holy day in the Balinese calendar.

Family of Ni Ketut Lastri cry as her body arrives home. Picture: Lukman S Bintoro/ News Corp

Lestari’s body was found 24 hours after her disappearance, on the mainland coast and last night was returned to her Balinese family’s home in Sakti Village on Nusa Penida island. Her niece, who comes from Kalimantan, is yet to be found.

Three male family members accompanied the body on a ferry on its sad journey home.

A cousin said the couple had married in Australia last year and lived in Perth and that last month they had come to Bali to be married in a Balinese wedding ceremony on the island of Nusa Penida.

Perth couple Brad and Lestari Williams. Picture: Facebook

That wedding took place on May 23 and the couple was honeymooning in Bali, planning to return to Australia on June 12.

The tragedy occurred on Thursday afternoon about 5.30pm after the couple and family members walked on the beach at an area known as Angel’s Billabong.

Nusa Penida police chief, Gede Arianta, said the freak waves were like a tsuanmi.

He said the couple and their group was about 50 metres from the water’s edge when the wave overcame them. The waves around Bali are currently extremely high and police have warned against going near the area until the waves subside.

The newlyweds pictured in happier times. Picture: Facebook

“When the incident happened there were many people enjoying the place. But suddenly extremely high waves came and swept all people away. The two victims could not be saved,” Mr Arianta said.

“Indeed the waves in Bali are currently extremely high. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency have reminded all the Bali residents to be alert about the high waves,” he said.

“They were around 50 metres from the edge. But the waves were extremely high. It was like a tsunami. “

The search for her young niece’s body is ongoing.

Lestari’s Facebook page includes happy images of her traditional Balinese wedding to Brad along with loving photos of her Australian wedding.