A YOUNG Brit is feared drowned after being dragged out to sea in front of horrified pals on a notorious Bali beach.
Harrison Edward Nada Kontounas, 23, from East London, was swimming with friends at Legian Beach on Wednesday when a powerful riptide pulled him under.
Harrison Edward Nada Kontounas, 23, went missing on Wednesday in Bali[/caption]
It is feared he may have drowned after being dragged out to sea in front of horrified pals on a notorious Bali beach[/caption]
They boys were at Legian Beach on Wednesday when a powerful riptide pulled him under[/caption]
Three pals had entered the water while another stayed on the sand -but Harrison did not make it back.
A source told The Sun: “There were four of them out there. Three went into the sea while one stayed on shore. But only the two other boys came back – not Harrison.”
Local officials said winds reached 30km/h as Kontounas was swept away. His desperate friends made it to the sand but he vanished beneath the waves.
Lifeguards scoured the beach into the night but rough conditions meant they couldn’t send out boats or jet skis immediately.
The Head of the Denpasar Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas), I Nyoman Sidakarya, said: “We urge you to be careful when engaging in outdoor activities, including beach tourism.
“We received a report at 18.40 WITA, that a foreigner had drowned from Mr Ipel, Balawiata Kuta, then five personnel were dispatched to the location.
“Our initial step is to coordinate with witnesses and other SAR elements. If he is not found tomorrow morning (today), we can determine our next action plan.”
A source added: “It was too dark to have a search party at the time but eventually they had one and even paid for a helicopter to join in.
“The boys were out on jet skis looking for him without life jackets.”
Friends also posted frantic appeals online. One wrote in a Facebook group for Australians in Bali: “Close friend was swept out to sea by a riptide today from Kuta beach at 5pm local time. He has not been found.”
Kuta Beach, next to Legian, has long been considered one of the island’s most treacherous spots for swimmers.
Holidaymakers flooded social media to warn others to stay away.
“Even swimming between the lifesaver flags you will get rips. Kuta just isn’t safe for swimmers,” one traveller wrote.
Another said: “According to the locals it’s not just the rip dragging you along, it’s also the very strong undertow and whirlpool that can pull you under.”
Eyewitness Abbey Maree described the gut-wrenching search.
“It was a heartbreaking afternoon on the beach watching lifeguards searching for hours to find him,” she said.
“The water was so rough at the time. I was hoping they’d bring in a few more jet skis or boats to search, perhaps a helicopter, but sadly they just don’t operate like we do back home.
“My heart bleeds for his friends and family and everyone else on the beach helping to find him.”
Search teams yesterday swept the coastline but were unable to deploy full rescue equipment because of the dangerous surf.
Kontounas, from Britain, remained missing last night as the hunt for him continued.
Holidaymakers flooded social media to warn others to stay away[/caption]
Rescue teams are searching for a British tourist who is feared to have drowned at a beach in Bali[/caption]
