British Woman Dies After Snorkelling in East Lombok

A 24-year-old British national, Bethany Anne Rebecca Smith, died on Wednesday, July 30, following a snorkelling and freediving excursion near Pink Beach in East Lombok, Indonesia. The incident occurred after she reportedly experienced convulsions while diving with a colleague.

According to reports in Indonesia Expat and Inside Lombok, Smith had initially been snorkelling with a group at Gili Peteluan before continuing the trip to the nearby Semangko Sea area off Pink Beach.

The group began snorkelling at Gili Peteluan at approximately 8:30 AM local time and later moved to the second site. At around 11:15 AM, after snorkelling, Smith and a colleague began a freedive to a depth of around 10 to 15 metres. During the dive, she appeared to suffer a sudden medical issue and was brought back to the surface.

Witnesses stated that upon surfacing, she was convulsing. The dive guides and boat crew acted quickly, bringing her aboard and transporting her to Telong-Telong Pier for medical help. She was still breathing during the evacuation.

An ambulance took her to the Jerowaru Community Health Centre, but she was declared deceased en route. Medical staff at the health centre confirmed her death upon arrival, and her body was transferred to Bhayangkara Mataram Hospital for a post-mortem examination. Local authorities have since interviewed witnesses as part of the investigation.

While the precise cause of death is yet to be determined, officials have indicated that a medical issue may have played a role. In response to the incident, East Lombok Police have urged marine tourism operators and visitors to prioritise health checks and safety protocols to help prevent future tragedies.