A German national was found dead in his bathroom in Sanur on Monday evening, apparently electrocuted by a faulty water heater.
The victim, identified only as PP (53), was discovered by his wife, YP (54), a Thai national, at their home on Jalan Kutat Lestari Gang Pelanggi No. 14, in the Sanur Kauh area of South Denpasar.
The incident occurred around 5:40 PM on Monday, May 25, 2026.
According to police, the couple was showering in separate bathrooms. When the wife finished and her husband did not emerge, she went to check on him. She found him lying face down, unmoving, in a position resembling prostration.
“She tried to call him repeatedly, but there was no response,” said Iptu Gede Adi Saputra Jaya, public relations officer for the Denpasar Police, on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
The Scene
Panicked, the wife called for help from neighbors. Several residents arrived and helped move the victim’s body from the bathroom onto a bed.
But during the evacuation, one neighbor reported being shocked when touching the metal part of the shower hose.
Police who arrived at the scene conducted an initial investigation. They found no signs of violence on the victim’s body. However, burn marks were discovered on his back. Additionally, skin residue was found stuck to the shower hose.
“Tentatively, the victim died due to electric shock from a short circuit in the water heater,” the police spokesperson said.
The victim was unclothed and his body had already stiffened when discovered.
The Risks of Everyday Appliances
Water heaters are standard in many Bali bathrooms, especially in properties catering to foreign residents. The combination of water, metal fittings, and electricity creates a risk that is often overlooked.
When a water heater short circuits, the electrical current can travel through the water pipes and into the shower hose. A person standing in wet conditions, barefoot on a damp floor, becomes a perfect conductor.
The neighbor who was shocked during the evacuation confirmed that the danger did not end with the victim’s death. The bathroom remained electrified even after the body was moved.
Police have not released the brand or age of the water heater. An investigation is ongoing.
What This Means for Expats and Travelers
For expats living in Bali, the incident is a chilling reminder of a hazard that is rarely discussed.
Water heaters in Bali range from new, properly installed units to old, poorly grounded appliances installed by previous owners or landlords. A cheap unit may work fine for years — until one day, it does not.
For travelers staying in villas or guesthouses, the risk is similar. The bathroom may look clean and modern. The water heater may appear functional. But unless the grounding system has been professionally installed and maintained, a short circuit can turn a shower into a death trap.
Simple precautions exist: test the shower hose for stray voltage before stepping in, install residual-current devices (RCDs), and ensure that water heaters are properly grounded. But many renters never think to ask.
PP was 53 years old. He was living in Sanur, a quiet beachside suburb popular with long-term expats and retirees. He was showering in his own home.
And now, a faulty water heater has taken his life.
The Investigation
The victim’s body was taken to Bali Mandara Hospital by an ambulance from the Denpasar Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD). Medical examination confirmed his death.
Police are continuing their investigation. No arrests have been made. No charges have been filed.
But for the wife who found him, and for the neighbors who helped pull his body from an electrified bathroom, the memory will not fade quickly.
A shower. A water heater. A short circuit.
And a German national who went to clean himself and never walked out again.
