Australian tourist dies as snorkeling boat capsizes off Bali

Saturday, 22 March 2025 08:00

The group, including 11 Australians, was looking at underwater scenery when their boat was hit by a large wave.

An Australian woman has died after she was onboard a snorkeling boat that capsized in rough seas off Bali on Friday.

Anna Maree, 39, from Canberra, was found in the waters unresponsive after a large wave overturned the tour boat.

The Sea Dragon 2, which was carrying 13 people, including 11 Australian tourists, was en route from a port in Bali to Nusa Penida, a popular nearby island, local police spokesperson Agus Widiono said.

Passengers sit on a boat carrying tourists including a number of Australians that capsized in the waters off Nusa Penida Island, in Bali.

The group was looking at underwater scenery when their boat was hit by a large wave that threw the Australian overboard.

It was followed by a second wave that capsized the boat, Widiono said.

Two of the other injured Australians have been identified as 28-year-old Gabriel Hijniakoff from Brisbane and 32-year-old Cintamani Warrington, an Australian national living in Bali.

Local police said one of the injured suffered burns on their upper thighs, possibly from engine heat.

A nearby boat rushed to rescue 12 survivors, including two local crews and two injured tourists.

Rescuers also found the body of Anna Maree, the spokesperson said.

Survivors were treated at nearby health clinic and are in stable condition.

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said they were providing consular assistance to the Australian family.

"We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time. The department is also providing consular assistance to two Australians who were injured in the same incident," the spokesperson said.

Maritime accidents have killed hundreds of people in Indonesia in recent years. Boats are often overcrowded, and safety regulations are poorly enforced.

The vast archipelago country spans more than 17,000 islands with a population of 280 million, and boats are a popular and relatively cheap form of transportation.

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