PANDAWA BEACH, Bali — What began as an act of compassion ended with a nighttime rescue operation on one of Bali’s most dramatic coastlines.
A 55-year-old foreign resident identified as Roger was rescued from a cliff at Pandawa Beach on Saturday evening after becoming trapped while attempting to save a dog.
According to Bali’s Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), Roger had descended a rocky section of cliff near the beach alongside three companions when they encountered a dog in difficulty.
The rescue of the animal was successful.
Getting Roger back up was not.
“Roger is an animal lover,” said I Wayan Juni Antara, Head of Operations and Preparedness at Basarnas Denpasar. “After helping save the dog, unfortunately he was unable to climb back to the top of the cliff.”
A Rescue That Became Another Rescue
The incident occurred near the limestone cliffs overlooking Pandawa Beach in Kutuh Village, one of Bali’s most scenic stretches of coastline.
What began as an effort to help an animal quickly turned into a rescue mission involving emergency responders.
Basarnas received a distress call at approximately 6:40 p.m. local time.
By the time rescuers arrived at the scene around 7 p.m., daylight was fading and conditions had become increasingly challenging.
Officials said limited visibility and the steep terrain complicated efforts to reach Roger safely.
“The incident happened before 5 p.m.,” Juni Antara explained. “After receiving the report, our team arrived on site and immediately developed a strategy to reach the victim.”
A Difficult Operation After Dark
Seven rescue personnel were deployed to the location.
Given the height of the cliff and the difficult access, rescuers used a rope-lifting technique to reach Roger’s position approximately five meters below the top of the cliff.
One rescue specialist was lowered to the stranded man before the team began carefully extracting him from the ledge.
The operation lasted for more than two hours.
At 9:05 p.m., Roger was finally brought safely back to the top.
He was not injured.
The dog was also safe.
A Reminder About Bali’s Hidden Risks
Pandawa Beach is best known for its white sand, turquoise water, and towering limestone cliffs that attract thousands of visitors each year.
But rescue officials say the island’s coastal landscapes can become hazardous when people venture beyond designated access routes, particularly as daylight fades.
For many animal lovers in Bali, helping a stray dog would feel like an instinctive decision. The island is home to a large population of free-roaming dogs, many of which are cared for by local residents, expatriates, and animal welfare groups.
On Saturday, that instinct nearly left one rescuer needing rescue himself.
Fortunately, the story ended differently.
A dog was saved.
A man was rescued.
And a routine Saturday at one of Bali’s most beautiful beaches became a reminder that even acts of kindness can carry unexpected risks.
