British tourist drowns off Bali after rip current; family honors son and calls for inquiry

A British tourist has drowned off Bali after being swept out to sea by a rip current at Kuta Beach, with his body recovered offshore hours after the incident. Harrison Nada-Kontounas, 23, was pulled away from friends at Legian Point as strong currents and 30-km/h winds battered the area on Wednesday afternoon. Lifeguards reached within a metre but were unable to pull him from the water as the tide carried him farther out.

Two of his friends managed to return to shore, but the third person remained missing as a major search unfolded along Bali’s popular beach. With no official air search initially provided, the friends used donations from a GoFundMe page to fund a private helicopter as they scoured the coastline for more than 32 hours. By Friday, Nada-Kontounas’s family confirmed that his body had been found about 3.2 kilometres offshore from where he was last seen. The family requested privacy and said they would use remaining funds to honor and recover their son.

In a statement provided to the Daily Mail, the family said, "With deep sadness, we confirm that Harrison’s body was recovered today, approximately two miles offshore from where he was last seen." His mother described him as gentle, kind, and funny, a young man who lived life with joy and cherished his family and friends. The statement praised Harrison’s loyalty, warmth, and generous soul, noting that he loved football and enjoyed making others feel at ease during interactions. The family stressed that his life, though brief, was filled with love and friendship, and they asked for privacy as they grieve.

The family also thanked the people who searched for Harrison in the hours after he disappeared, including his friends, strangers on the beach, and Balinese locals. In particular, they highlighted a local lifeguard named Marlon, who came within metres of reaching Harrison in the initial moments and later recovered his body from the sea. A friend of the family who witnessed Marlon’s efforts said, "He truly wanted to save a life, and he truly tried." The family said Marlon’s courage and persistence would be remembered as part of the tragedy.

Fans and supporters who had donated to the GoFundMe page wrote messages of support after the news broke. The family said more than £27,000 had been raised to cover repatriation costs, funeral arrangements, and a donation to a charity in Harrison’s memory, with remaining funds slated to support memorial efforts.

Earlier reporting indicated that the group involved had not been swimming in a red-flagged area at the time, contrary to some local reports. The initial search for Harrison began on land, as sea-search operations faced delays. Warning flags had been raised in the area after Harrison had already been swept away around 4:10 p.m., and lifeguards had come close to saving him before being forced back by the rip.

In a separate statement, the family criticized what they described as a lack of urgent action by authorities in the crucial first hours of the disappearance. They said two hours of daylight passed before the search intensified, and they questioned why helicopters and more resources were not deployed earlier. The family called for a formal investigation into the handling of the incident, arguing that Bali’s beaches should be a safe destination and that warnings and protections must be more effective for visitors.

Harrison’s mother has since traveled to Bali, where she and the family have expressed gratitude for the ongoing assistance from locals and visitors alike, while also requesting privacy as they settle their loss. The tragedy has prompted renewed discussion about beach safety at Bali’s popular tourist beaches, with local residents and travelers alike noting the dangers that rip currents and undertows can pose even when surf conditions appear routine.