Four Tourists Found Alive After 24 Hours Lost at Sea in Indonesia
A diving group was swept away by strong currents off the island of Flores.
Four divers, including two Irish tourists, an Austrian woman, and an Indonesian dive guide, were found alive after disappearing for 24 hours during a diving trip off the coast of Flores, Indonesia. The group was swept away by strong currents near Pulau Pangabatang in Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, on October 4.
The popular diving spot in the Maumere Sea Gardens, known for its coral reefs, is also recognized for its powerful currents. The divers were in two separate teams, each with a local guide.
The first team consisted of Dutch tourist Bart Hazes, 60, and his guide, Maria Rosa Hariana Djaa, 25, who resurfaced as expected. However, the second team, comprising Austrian tourist Patricia Retter, 43, Irish divers Dervla Mulligan, 28, and Darragh McKiernan, 27, along with their guide Frederik Horimpun, 39, failed to return.
The Maumere Search and Rescue Office, part of Indonesia’s national search and rescue agency Basarnas, received the alert shortly after 2 p.m. local time. A coordinated search effort was initiated, involving Basarnas, the Indonesian Navy, East Nusa Tenggara water police, and local fishermen.