JAKARTA: A Spanish man has died while spearfishing in the ocean in the north of Bali, allegedly suffering a blackout while underwater.
Lopez Pino Ferran, a 37-year-old man, was found dead after spearfishing in Tangkad Menaum waters in Pemuteran, Gerokgak district, Buleleng regency.
“It is suspected that the victim experienced a blackout or oxygen deprivation while spearfishing at depth, due to insufficient or inadequate equipment,” Gerokgak police chief Comr I Made Derawi said on Tuesday (Aug 19).
Derawi said that the incident began at 11am when the victim decided to join a spearfishing trip with three Balinese.
One of the Balinese, Putu Okta Wirawan told the police that he and his brother were invited to join the spearfishing trip by their uncle Ketut Diatmika.
When they were prepared to go, Okta’s uncle Diatmika informed Okta that his Spanish friend Lopez Pino Ferran asked to join. They waited for the Spaniard on the beach at Tanjung Bukit Ser, Pemuteran for around 30 minutes.
When Pino Ferran arrived at the beach, they started their boat, going to the spearfishing point at Tangkad Menaum waters. They arrived at the spearfishing point at noon and immediately started to dive.
“Before beginning, the witness reminded the victim to not go more than five metres deep and to always follow him whenever he goes,” Derawi said.
Pino Ferran started spearfishing with Okta and his brother. Their uncle Diatmika was waiting on the boat while fishing. When they were spearfishing, Okta realised that Pino Ferran was not following him. Okta, who had lost the Spaniard, decided to find him.
Around 10 minutes later, he met Pino Ferran and reminded him again to always follow him, to which Pino Ferran said yes. However, when they started spearfishing again, Ferran was apparently not following Okta.
“The victim moved by himself without following the witness,” Derawi said. At 1pm, around 30 minutes later, Okta lost Pino Ferran again. They decided to go back to the boat after they failed to find Pino Ferran. On the boat, Okta, his brother and their uncle Diatmika tried to find the victim by moving at least four times around the area.
However, they failed to find him. “The witness Okta dove again to find the victim, but failed to find the Spanish man,” Derawi said. Okta later called his diver friend, Gunarsa, who later came with his friend Sudarmawa and brought diving equipment. They dove to find the victim.
“The victim was found dead in around 20m depth of waters,” Derawi said.
Evacuation of the victim to the beach had been conducted with assistance from the Buleleng Water Police unit. Buleleng Police spokesperson First Insp. Yohana Rosalin Diaz said that an investigation of the incident was underway. However, police suspected that the victim died from oxygen deprivation.
“We have questioned witnesses, carried out visum et repertum and collected evidence,” Yohana said. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
