Tragedy at Anyer Beach: 19-Year-Old Student, Swept Away by Current, Found Dead

SERANG - A joint SAR team successfully recovered the body of Awwalul Yurid Tauhid (19), a student who reportedly drowned at Cibaru Beach, Anyer, Serang Regency, Banten Province, after a three-day search.

"The victim was found deceased on the third day of the search at around 8:15 a.m. Western Indonesian Time," said Rizki Dwianto, Head of the Operations and Alertness Subsection of the Banten National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), in Serang, Antara, Friday, September 26.

He explained that the search, which involved two rubber boats and a thermal drone, successfully tracked the victim at coordinates 6°06'38.0"S -105°52'17.9"E, or approximately 1.7 nautical miles from where he was initially reported missing.

The joint SAR team, consisting of the Banten Search and Rescue Office, the Water Police, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Water and Rescue Agency (Balawista), and volunteers, then evacuated the body of the student from Takalar, South Sulawesi, to a post to be handed over to his family.

"With the discovery of the victim, the search and rescue operation has officially ended," said Rizki.

He expressed his appreciation for the synergy of all teams involved and offered his deepest condolences to the victim's family.

Previously, the victim and 10 of his friends arrived at Cibaru Anyer Beach around 5:00 PM WIB on Wednesday, September 24, and immediately went swimming. About half an hour later, the victim was swept away by the current and managed to call for help before disappearing.

The victim was a student at the Irmansofran Vocational Tahfidz Islamic Boarding School in Tambang Ayam Village, Serang Regency, and was originally from Pattallassang, Takalar Regency, South Sulawesi.