On Monday, 4th March 2024, tragedy struck at Grajagan Beach, Banyuwangi, where an Australian tourist met his demise while surfing. According to Wahyu Setia Budi, Head of the Banyuwangi Rescue Post, the victim arrived with two friends at Grajagan Beach around 5:30 AM, carrying his surfboard. Approximately 10 minutes later, he ventured into the sea.
After about 15 minutes, the victim’s companion, Gregor, noticed the surfboard adrift, but the victim was nowhere to be seen on the surface. Another friend, Kris, approached the surfboard and discovered the victim entangled and struggling underwater, with his feet bound to the surfboard.
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The victim’s two companions immediately attempted to rescue him by heading back to shore. However, they encountered a wave that broke the surf rope tethering the victim’s leg, causing them to be swept away by the force of the water.
At 6 AM, the two friends reported the incident to the hotel where they were staying. Despite their efforts to return to the beach to search for the victim, Gregor and Kris could not do so due to the rough waves.
On Tuesday, 5th March 2024, the rescue team successfully located the victim’s body within a 5-kilometer radius of the drowning site at Grajagan Beach. The victim’s remains were promptly transported to Blambangan Hospital for repatriation to Australia.
Grajagan Beach in Banyuwangi is renowned as one of the premier surfing destinations, attracting numerous foreign tourists. The waves along the beach extend up to 1 kilometre from the shoreline, with heights reaching approximately 4 meters.
These waves can attain speeds of up to 60 km/hour, making them formidable and potentially hazardous for novice surfers. Consequently, Grajagan Beach is often considered a challenging terrain for those new to the sport of surfing.
