A group of students from Amanatul Ummah Islamic Boarding School, Pacet, Mojokerto, were swept away by a wave while swimming at Balekambang Beach, Malang. Two students were rescued by a German tourist who witnessed the incident.
The heroic action was carried out by a female tourist from Germany, Helena Lindner, as she attempted to save the students who were dragged by the waves at Balekambang Beach, Srigonco Village, Bantur District, Malang Regency, on Wednesday, 9 April 2025.
She, along with a local tour guide, tried to evacuate the victims to the beach before officers arrived.
Helena helped rescue Andi Khoirul Raffi and Kayy Yugo, who had been swept away by the waves. She assisted the two survivors together with the tour guide, Rio Candra Hidayat.
“Both (the foreigner and the tour guide) helped evacuate the victims to the shore before the officers arrived,” said Malang Police Public Relations Officer, AKP Bambang Subinajar, as reported by detikJatim.
The two students, Helena, and the tour guide received medical treatment at the Bantur Health Centre after struggling to save themselves.
A sea trough or rip current is suspected to be the cause of the drifting of five tourists on the south coast of Malang Regency.
Chronology of the Accident
Bantur Police Chief, AKP Totok Suprapto, explained that the victims had arrived at Balekambang Beach in Malang on Wednesday morning, 9 April 2025, at around 1:45 p.m., by car from Batu City. They were a group of students from Amanatul Ummah Islamic Boarding School, Pacet, Mojokerto, who had departed from a friend’s house in Batu City.
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One student, Hafiz Syarifidin (15), from Jatirejo, Mojokerto Regency, came out of the water to perform the Dzuhur prayer. However, five of his friends remained in the sea by the beach. The five students were suddenly caught by the waves in the sea trough area and pulled towards the centre.
They shouted for help, prompting other tourists and lifeguards to attempt a rescue.
“Two victims managed to make it to shore and were helped by a foreign tourist, a companion, and a coast guard officer, but the other three were carried away by the waves,” said Bantur Police Chief, AKP Totok Suprapto, as quoted by Okezone.
A joint team comprising police, military personnel, Perhutani, coast guard officers, and members of the local community collaborated in the search for the three students, namely Lutfi Munawar (15) from Mojokerto, Yasir Arafat Inninawa (15) from Sidoarjo, and Fahmi Sirilah (16) from Mojokerto, East Java.
As of the time of writing, the search process was still ongoing. Malang Police have also urged the public to be cautious when visiting the south coast, as the waves in the area are particularly dangerous.
Balekambang Beach: A Favourite Spot for Tourists During the Eid Holiday
Balekambang Beach is indeed one of the favourite tourist destinations for residents of Malang and East Java. During the Eid al-Fitr 2025 holiday, the beach in the South Malang area, Malang Regency, was crowded with tourists, both local and from out of town.
Visitor numbers peaked on the fifth day after Eid, reaching 4,000 people. On the sixth day, the number of visitors decreased to 3,000.
The beach boasts stunning natural beauty, comparable to that of beaches in Bali. Additionally, Balekambang Beach is a site of religious tourism for Hindus, due to the presence of Amerta Temple, which gives it a distinctive appeal compared to other beaches along the South Malang coast.
Cover: Photo by nikko macaspac on Unsplash
