BADUNG, Bali — A 17-year-old boy who was swept away by powerful waves while swimming at one of Bali’s popular surf beaches has been found dead after a thermal drone helped search teams locate his body during a second day of intensive rescue operations.
The victim, Christian Jonathan Made Caesar Halawa, disappeared after being caught in strong currents at Pererenan Beach in Badung Regency on Saturday evening. His body was recovered on Monday afternoon approximately 300 meters (984 feet) from where he was last seen.
“The victim was located at around 1:45 p.m., approximately 300 meters from the shoreline,” I Made Widiantara, field coordinator for the Denpasar Search and Rescue Office, said.
Thermal Drone Changed the Search
The second day of the operation involved a coordinated search by sea, air and land, with rescuers dividing into multiple teams to cover the coastline and nearby waters.
A rescue boat searched offshore while ground teams combed the beach in both directions from the incident site.
At 1:15 p.m., rescuers launched a thermal imaging drone over waters southwest of the beach. About 15 minutes later, the drone detected what appeared to be the missing teenager floating offshore.
The coordinates were immediately relayed to the marine Search and Rescue Unit, which navigated to the location and recovered the victim.
His body was later transported by ambulance to Mangusada Regional Hospital.
Three Friends Entered the Water
Authorities said Christian had been swimming with two friends when the group encountered heavy surf and dangerous currents on Saturday at approximately 5:40 p.m.
While one teenager managed to swim back to shore independently, another was rescued by lifeguards from Pererenan Beach’s Balawista rescue team.
Christian, however, disappeared beneath the waves and could not be located before darkness forced rescuers to suspend the initial search.
A Popular Beach With Powerful Surf
Pererenan Beach, located just west of Canggu, is well known for its powerful surf breaks and attracts both surfers and visitors seeking quieter stretches of coastline. However, the beach can also experience strong rip currents and large waves, particularly during the dry season when ocean swells become more consistent.
The rescue operation involved personnel from the Denpasar Search and Rescue Office, police, the Badung Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), volunteer radio organizations, beach lifeguards and members of the victim’s family.
Authorities continue to remind visitors that Bali’s west coast beaches can experience unpredictable ocean conditions, urging swimmers to pay attention to warning flags, follow lifeguard instructions and avoid entering the water when waves and currents are strong.
