French diver's body recovered - Indonesia

[DandyDon]

Missing French scuba diver found dead

Mataram, W Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA News) - Search and rescue workers have found the body of 39-year-old French tourist Nicolas, who went missing while scuba diving in the Gili Panggang waters of Sekotong Village, Lombok Barat District, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Thursday.

"Nicolas body was found about 15 meters below the sea surface by the divers of Mataram offices search and rescue agency (Basarnas) at about 9:30 a.m. local time," Basarnas spokesman Putu Cakra Negara stated here Friday.

The body of the ill-fated tourist has been sent to Sekotong Villages health center, he noted, adding that Nicolas went diving in the waters of Gili Panggang along with two other French tourists identified as 29-year-old Julien and 42-year-old Benjamin on Thursday morning.

The French divers were escorted by three local tour guides: 27-year-old Muhamad, 22-year-old Galih Purwono, and 35-year-old Budi. After scuba diving for two hours, starting from 10 a.m. local time, Julien and Benjamin returned to the sea surface, but Nicolas failed to show up, he revealed.

"As a result of this discovery, we have officially accomplished this search effort," Negara added. (*)

 

[They call me Tater]

Got to wonder how with 3 divers and 3 guides, one goes missing....

 

[cephalopod2]

There is a little more info here. Translation by Google translate. I've only included the paragraphs with additional detail.

Nasib Warga Prancis yang Hilang Saat Menyelam di Lombok
Liputan6.com, Mataram - Nicolas (39), a French citizen who disappeared on Thursday, February 16, 2017, while diving in the waters of Gili Panggang, Sekotong, Lombok Barat, was found dead. The victim was found Mataram Basarnas team of divers around the location of the loss of the victim, on Friday (02/17/2017).

...Mataram Basarnas team look for the presence of victims since yesterday. Then the search was suspended due to weather constraints and dark. The search for victims was continued Friday morning.

...After the dive, Nicolas did not come to the surface. After waiting a few hours, the two men and several people were reported lost WN guides it to the Police France Praya Barat.
----------
Liputan6.com, Mataram - Nicolas (39), warga negara Prancis yang hilang pada Kamis, 16 Februari 2017, saat menyelam di perairan Gili Panggang, Sekotong, Lombok Barat, ditemukan meninggal dunia. Korban ditemukan tim penyelam Basarnas Mataram di sekitar lokasi hilangnya korban, pada Jumat (17/2/2017).

...Tim Basarnas Mataram mencari keberadaan korban sejak kemarin. Pencarian kemudian dihentikan sementara karena terkendala cuaca dan gelap. Pencarian korban kemudian dilanjutkan Jumat pagi.

...Usai menyelam, Nicolas tak muncul ke permukaan. Setelah menunggu beberapa jam, kedua rekannya dan beberapa orang pemandu itu melaporkan kehilangan WN Prancis itu ke Polsek Praya Barat.

 

[cephalopod2]

The 3 guides may not all have been dive guides. According to the second article below they were spearfishing and the victim was swept away by current. All translations from google.

Wisatawan Prancis Hilang Saat Menyelam di Gili Panggang Lombok
According to Chakra, the victim along with his two companions set out from the inn to Gili Panggang at 08.00. They were accompanied by two guides and a fisherman.

Menurut Cakra, korban bersama dua rekannya berangkat dari penginapan menuju Gili Panggang pada pukul 08.00 Wita. Mereka didampingi dua pemandu dan seorang nelayan.

Gatranews - Warga Prancis Hilang Ditemukan di Gili Panggang
...The victim was reported missing on Thursday (16/2) at 08.00 pm the victim and two friends, Julian (29) WNA France and Bunjamin (42) WNA French went with two guides namely Muhammad (27), Galih Purnomo (22) and Bob (35) fishermen. They set off through the waters of Selong Belanak use a boat to Gili Panggang. Around 10:00 pm they arrived Gili Panggang and three dives while shooting fish (Spearfishing).

According to fellow victims, around 12:00 pm Nicolas swept away, both friends want to help but ill-fated, Nicolas disappearing due to the rapid flow of water so that the bottom of his friends forced to leave the water. Furthermore, this incident was reported to the police and Kadus Selong Belanak Central Lombok is then forwarded to the office of SAR Mataram.

Sebagaiman diketahui, korban dilaporkan hilang pada Kamis (16/2) pukul 08.00 Wita korban bersama dua temannya, Julian (29) WNA Perancis dan Bunjamin (42) WNA Perancis pergi bersama dua pemandu yaitu Muhammad (27), Galih Purwono (22) dan Budi (35) nelayan. Mereka berangkat melalui perairan Selong Belanak menggunakan perahu menuju Gili Panggang. Sekitar pukul 10.00 Wita mereka tiba Gili Panggang dan ketiganya menyelam sambil nembak ikan (Spearfishing).

Menurut rekan korban, sekitar pukul 12.00 Wita Nicolas terseret arus, keduanya temannya hendak menolong namun naas, Nicolas menghilang akibat derasnya arus bawah air sehingga temannya terpaksa meninggalkannya ke permukaan air. Selanjutnya kejadian ini dilaporkan ke pihak kepolisian dan Kadus Selong Belanak Lombok Tengah kemudian diteruskan ke kantor SAR Mataram.

 

[Dan]

Sad story. Condolences to Nicolas family & friends.

According to the articles, the 3 Indonesian guys are only a fisherman & 2 porter, no dive guide.

 

[Shasta_man]

Such currents not surprising in Indo