What was meant to be a beautiful underwater adventure in one of Indonesia’s most scenic snorkelling spots turned into an unimaginable tragedy.
A 24-year-old British woman has died after suffering a suspected seizure while snorkelling near the iconic Pink Beach in East Lombok.
She was part of a tour group exploring the stunning coral reefs in the Semangko Sea when the incident occurred on July 30.
Snorkelling Trip Turns Fatal
According to local authorities, the woman had been diving with a companion, descending roughly 50 feet below the surface.
Everything appeared to be going fine—until she started convulsing as they surfaced from the water.
Panic immediately set in. The boat crew rushed to pull her out of the sea and get her back onboard.
Though she was still breathing as they sped towards the shore, she sadly died before reaching the local community health centre in Jerowaru.
Police Share the Timeline of Events
Nikolas Osman, the head of public relations for the East Lombok Police, confirmed that the woman was one of ten tourists in a snorkelling group that had been exploring multiple dive locations.
“At around 8:30am, the group began snorkelling at Gili Peteluan,” he said.
“Later, around 9:15am, they moved to the Semangko Sea, near Pink Beach, to continue. That’s when things went wrong.”
He explained that as the young woman was ascending, her condition suddenly changed.
Her diving partner noticed something wasn’t right and helped her to the surface.
Desperate Rush to Get Help
Realising how serious the situation was, the boat’s captain immediately set course for the Telong-Elong Pier.
An ambulance was waiting when they arrived, but despite their urgent efforts, the woman didn’t make it.
She was pronounced dead less than an hour later—just before midday.
Local police have started questioning the crew members and tourists who witnessed the incident, hoping to piece together what exactly happened.
Post-Mortem Examination Underway
At this point, the exact cause of death hasn’t been confirmed.
Her body has been transferred to Bhayangkara Hospital, where a post-mortem examination will be carried out.
Officials are still treating the case as unexplained, pending the results of further investigations.
Pink Beach’s Stunning Beauty Hides Real Risks
Pink Beach, or Pantai Pink as it’s known locally, is one of East Lombok’s most famous attractions.
Its unique rose-coloured sand is formed from a natural mix of white grains and crushed red coral, drawing tourists from all over the world.
Its waters, while breathtaking and full of marine life, can still pose serious dangers—especially for those not accustomed to strong currents or underwater conditions.
Another Tragic Death in the Same Waters
Sadly, this isn’t the first fatal incident in the area.
Back in September last year, a 61-year-old tourist from China, Zhou Wei Gang, also lost his life after diving in the same region.
He had been enjoying a 33-minute dive to a depth of 82 feet before returning to the boat.
Not long after, he complained of dizziness, began vomiting, and lost consciousness.
Despite immediate efforts, he too was pronounced dead upon reaching shore.
The Foreign Office Has Been Notified
The UK Foreign Office has been contacted for comment regarding the British woman’s death, but no public statement has been released so far.
As the investigation continues, her loved ones are left with devastating grief in the wake of what was supposed to be a joyful travel experience.