British tourist swept out to sea in Bali as search and scrutiny intensify

A British man missing at sea in Bali was just a metre from being rescued before he was swept away in rough conditions this week, as the search for Harrison Nada-Kontounas, 23, continues. Nada-Kontounas vanished after a rip dragged him from a group of friends at Legian Point on Kuta Beach on Wednesday afternoon, around 4:10 p.m. local time. His friends were able to make it back to shore, but lifeguards attempting to reach him were unable to close the gap against strong currents and 30 km/h winds.

Two of Nada-Kontounas’s companions survived the encounter, while authorities and rescue personnel began organizing a formal search. Local witnesses reported that warnings flags had reportedly been raised after the incident, but the group’s movements earlier in the afternoon were not clearly described in initial accounts from the area. The ordeal unfolded as the sun began to set and official resources on site were limited, according to those close to the case.

By late evening, with official search and rescue teams still to arrive in force, Nada-Kontounas’s friends funded a private helicopter to scour the coastline. They raised about £1,660 to cover air searches, a move they described as a last resort after no official air support was deployed. The private effort followed approximately 32 hours of continuous searching by family and friends who combed beaches and water, asking fishermen, bar staff, and other beachgoers to help locate him.

Friends say they did not enter a red-flagged zone and dispute early reports that warned swimmers away in the area. One friend said, “We had to hire a helicopter ourselves. We’ve barely slept. We walked the beaches all night, asking every fisherman, every bar, every tourist to watch for Harrison.” The group emphasized that they did not knowingly swim where it was prohibited and stressed the dangers posed by rip currents and undertows that can pull a person under even in seemingly calm conditions.

The family has called for a formal investigation into the response by local authorities, arguing that crucial hours were lost before any substantial search began. They say two hours of daylight were available after the disappearance, and they question why helicopters and other equipment did not arrive sooner. Nada-Kontounas’s mother has traveled to Bali to assist in the search, underscoring the emotional toll on relatives who are seeking answers about how the incident was handled.

The incident has underscored long-standing concerns about Bali’s beach safety and the effectiveness of warnings in high-risk coastal areas. Local residents and social media users have regularly highlighted that Kuta Beach can become dangerous in rough seas and that rip currents and undertows can pose serious risks even when the water appears moderate at first glance. Some posts echoed the family’s call for clearer guidance and faster, better-equipped rescue responses during emergencies.

As officials continue to coordinate a response given the conditions and daylight limitations, Nada-Kontounas’s family and friends remain hopeful for a breakthrough in the search and are urging more transparency about what happened and what steps will be taken to improve rescue operations in the future.