An Indian man was swept to death right in front of his wife and friend at an infamous tourist spot in Bali. Nilesh Mukhi was taking pictures at Angel’s Billabong when an intense wave knocked him off. The 59-year-old’s body was found on Thursday morning.
Angel’s Billabong has been the sight of other similar deaths in the past and that’s why is known as a “death trap”. It is a natural infinity pool with cliffs all around.
Mukhi, a resident of Kolkata, was taking photos at the site when both he and his wife were swept into the water by a massive wave. Reports suggest that Mukhi and his wife were standing very close to the edge. The sea was especially rough because of it being full moon.
Amin Asghar, president of travel agency Skal International, told the Times of India that their driver asked who was taking their pictures asked them to move away from the cliff’s edge. But soon after a large wave hit the cliff, dragging Mukhi into the sea.
While the people managed to save his wife Kavita right then, Mukhi was forcefully taken away by the waves. The local police and the Indonesian navy launched a search to look for him and found his body the next day in Nusa Dua, roughly 12 miles from Angel’s Billabong.
Angel’s Billabong is a famous tourist attraction but is known for being dangerous. Located on the island of Nusa Penida, the natural infinity pool has posed a scare to many other tourists.
Other incidents at Angel’s Billabong
In 2018, Chinese national Qiuwei Anhui was swept away in a similar fashion by a wave and drowned while taking a selfie.
A similar death happened in 2016, when honeymooning Australian couple Brad Williams and his wife, Lestari Williams, were hit by a wave at Angel’s Billabong. Lestari died in the incident.
People dying while trying to take pictures at tourists sites has become common in the past few years. Earlier this year, a 19-year-old man fell to his death as he attempted to take pictures at a remote spot in Utah. The incident happened in Moon Overlook, an elusive lookout spot in Wayne County that is popular with walkers and sightseers.
A man in Brazil plummeted 40 feet to his death two years ago as he tried to take a selfie at the Joatinga Beach in Rio de Janeiro.