SAR Team Evacuates Tourists Who Died Drowning On Pangandaran Beach

A number of officers evacuated tourists who had a sea accident due to their boat sank on the waves at Pangandaran Beach, Pangandaran Regency, West Java, Friday (28/4/2023). (ANTARA/HO-Satpol Airud Pangandaran)

The joint Search and Rescue (SAR) team evacuated a number of tourists, one of whom died as a result of drowning after the tourist boat they were traveling in sank by the waves while traveling on a water trip to Pasar Putih Beach at Pangandaran Beach, Pangandaran Regency, West Java.

Head of the Water and Air Police Unit of the Pangandaran Police, AKP Sugianto, said the victim was identified as Bandi Sobandi (53) a tourist from Padalarang, West Bandung Regency, who had then been taken to the hospital.

"So tourists want to go sailing to the middle, suddenly big waves come," said Sugianto, quoted by ANTARA, Friday, April 28.

The incident began when the victim and his family consisted of eight people riding a tour boat to travel from Pangandaran Beach to Pasir Putih Beach, Friday at around 07.30 WIB.

However, the boat used by the group of victims, he said, was hit by a large wave in the Pos 4 area or Post 5 about 100 meters from the lips of Pangandaran Beach, as a result, the boat sank, and panicked passengers including the victim.

All passengers, he continued, based on statements from witnesses, all of them were already wearing life vests for personal safety, but because the victim panicked, he drowned.

"Everyone uses buoys, only people in the sea panic," he said.

All other passengers have been rescued by being evacuated to the beach, while the deceased was taken to the hospital, and then handed over to his family.

"The victim was taken to the Pandega Hospital, we facilitated it to take care of insurance, because there is insurance, all insurance has been facilitated," said Sugianto.