Fatal Vacation in Labuan Bajo: Two Foreign Tourists Die After Falling from Bridge

A holiday for two Austrian tourists ended in tragedy. Foreign travellers Jurgen Perjul, 55, and Astrid Perjul, 57, died after falling from a 20-metre-high suspension bridge at Cunca Wulang Waterfall in Mbeliling District, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Cunca Wulang Waterfall is one of Labuan Bajo’s popular natural tourist attractions. The pair fell after wooden planks on the suspension bridge leading to the waterfall broke. ‘The crossing planks (suspension bridge) broke, causing both victims to fall,’ said Fathur Rahman, SAR Mission Coordinator at Maumere SAR Office, on Sunday (24 May 2026). The tragic incident began when Jurgen and Astrid visited Cunca Wulang Waterfall around 11:30 AM WITA on Sunday. They fell onto the rocks beneath the bridge. Tour guide Muhammad Muhardin, 30, witnessed the moment Jurgen and Astrid fell from the suspension bridge. According to Muhardin, the foreign tourists arrived at the Cunca Wulang Waterfall area around 9:20 AM WITA. They were accompanied by their personal driver, Julius Mam, 45. After completing administrative registration at the ticket booth, the tourists began trekking to the waterfall under Muhardin’s guidance. Upon reaching the wooden suspension bridge spanning above a rocky river, the victims intended to capture a short video of their moment together. They handed their mobile phones to Muhardin and asked him to record from behind. ‘They walked side by side, smiling warmly at the camera. They asked me to record from behind while crossing the bridge,’ Muhardin said in Labuan Bajo on Sunday. About 10 metres along the suspension bridge, Muhardin said the wooden structure supporting their feet suddenly broke. A loud sound, like a large tree falling, was heard. Muhardin witnessed the tourists falling from the bridge and hitting large rocks below. ‘The bridge collapsed completely within seconds,’ Muhardin said. ‘I saw them fall freely down and immediately strike the large river rocks at the bottom of the ravine,’ he added. Muhardin rushed back to the ticket booth and called for local assistance. Shortly after, a joint SAR team arrived at the scene to evacuate the foreign tourists. The evacuation of Jurgen and Astrid’s bodies was dramatic. The joint SAR team had to navigate the steep, narrow, and slippery rocky terrain of the Cunca Wulang River. Their bodies were eventually evacuated and taken to Komodo Regional General Hospital in Labuan Bajo. Meanwhile, police had cordoned off the scene. ‘Our top priority immediately after the incident was evacuating the victims and securing the crime scene to preserve physical evidence and maintain the status quo,’ said West Manggarai Police Chief AKBP Christian Kadang. The suspension bridge that claimed the lives of the foreign tourists was the access route to Cunca Wulang Waterfall. The tourist attraction, managed by the West Manggarai Tourism, Creative Economy, and Culture Office, is approximately a 1.5-hour drive from Labuan Bajo. West Manggarai Tourism, Creative Economy, and Culture Office Head Peter A Rasyid confirmed the incident involving two deceased tourists at Cunca Wulang. However, Peter is still gathering complete details about the event. ‘An Austrian tourist. It is not yet known if they were married,’ Peter said over the phone. West Manggarai Police are now investigating suspected negligence by the Cunca Wulang Waterfall tourism management that led to two deaths. Police have already conducted a crime scene investigation at the site. ‘We take tourist safety in West Manggarai seriously. The Reskrim Identification Team is conducting a thorough crime scene investigation to assess the technical feasibility of the wooden bridge,’ said West Manggarai Police Chief AKBP Christian Kadang. Police, he added, will also investigate the structural safety of the suspension bridge, including potential negligence by tourism management that led to loss of life. ‘We will also summon the Cunca Wulang tourism management for intensive questioning regarding safety standards (SOP) and infrastructure maintenance they have implemented,’ Christian explained. According to photos obtained by detikBali, sections of the bridge to Cunca Wulang Waterfall had gaps where wooden stepping planks had dislodged. This condition caused the two foreign tourists to fall. Regarding the handling of the foreign tourists’ bodies, police are coordinating with the Austrian Embassy in Jakarta. This includes processing official documents and securing the victims’ personal belongings left at their accommodation. The Cunca Wulang Waterfall tourist destination has been temporarily closed to visitors. This temporary closure is for the investigation by West Manggarai Police following the incident that killed two Austrian tourists. ‘For the safety of all tourists and to ensure the smooth progress of the ongoing legal investigation, the Cunca Wulang Waterfall has been temporarily closed until further notice,’ Christian said Sunday evening. Christian said his office has coordinated with the West Manggarai Regency Government regarding the temporary closure. According to him, the investigation