Hiro Hiko Kubo, 66, a Japanese tourist who went missing while on a diving trip Friday, has been found alive, the local search and rescue agency reported Sunday.
“The victim was found on a beach in Tanglad village, Nusa Penida, Klungkung district, after struggling for ten hours against strong waves,” a representative from the Bali provincial Search and Rescue (SAR) Agency in Denpasar said, as quoted by Antara.
The victim went missing Friday at 3 p.m. and was found by local villagers at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The villagers notified police at 5 p.m. and the SAR agency received the report two hours later.
Nusa Penida is a small island southeast of Bali. Its pristine beaches offer world-class diving. However, the Badung Strait, which separates Nusa Penida from Bali, has long been known for erratic weather changes, powerful waves and dangerous undercurrents.
The head of Bali’s SAR agency, I Ketut Purwa, said the agency was informed about the incident at 7:30 p.m., almost five hours after the victim went missing.
“As it was dark at the time it was impossible for us to deploy a search party,” he said.
A search commenced Saturday morning, involving a boat and helicopter. The search was focused on areas around the diving location.
“We called off the search as soon as we received information the victim had been found,” Purwa said.
The agency was able to save four German tourists and three crew members after a boat sank in Nusa Penida waters last July.
The German nationals were identified as Kalus, 52, Ingo, 47, Dettet, 43, and Eiete, 40, while the three crew members were identified as Wayan Tirta, 40, I Made Topel, 40, and Mirtinus, 38.
The tourists were on a dive trip when a series of powerful waves struck the boat, causing it to eventually sink
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Tags: Klungkung, Nusa Penida, SAR