Russian tourists trapped by high tide during sunset stroll at Padang-Padang Beach

Two Russian tourists were trapped by high tide at Padang-Padang Beach in Pecatu Village, South Kuta District, Badung, at around 9:20 PM WITA on Saturday (30/5/2026). They were successfully evacuated in the early hours.

The two Russian tourists, Shumskikh Ariadna Anatolievna (22) and Kristia Kirill Eduardovich (23), initially swam at Padang-Padang Beach for 30 minutes starting at 5:00 PM WITA before strolling along the shoreline to enjoy the sunset.

Unaware of the rising tide, the sea level increased as night fell. ‘After walking along the beach for 35 minutes, the waves suddenly surged and hit the shoreline, trapping the two victims,’ said Iptu I Gede Adi Saputra Jaya, Head of Public Relations at Denpasar Police Department, on Sunday (31/5/2026).

Attempted Cliff Climb

The victims attempted to escape by climbing the nearby cliffs, but the steep terrain prevented them from ascending further.

Shumskikh contacted her friend Ruslan Gruzinskii via Telegram for assistance. The information was relayed to Wedy Salmanto, who then alerted the Basarnas emergency service.

Denpasar Search and Rescue Office received the report at around 9:30 PM WITA. Seven SAR personnel were immediately dispatched to the scene, arriving at approximately 10:05 PM WITA.

Evacuation Halted by Steep Cliffs

The Denpasar SAR team coordinated with Denpasar Police’s Water and Air Unit (Satpolairud), the Tourism Rescue Agency (Balawista), the victims’ associates, and local residents to locate the two Russian tourists.

Approximately one hour later, the victims’ location was confirmed. However, evacuation was hindered by the steep, sharp cliffs and poor nighttime lighting.

The joint SAR team monitored data from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), which indicated the tide would recede around 3:00 AM WITA.

While waiting for the optimal evacuation time, the SAR team continued exploring ways to reach the victims, who remained under surveillance at the location.

Evacuated Using Ropes

Despite various obstacles and risks, the joint SAR team successfully evacuated the two Russian tourists using high-angle rescue techniques.

A SAR officer was first lowered via rope, followed by the sequential evacuation of the victims up the cliff.

‘Considering on-site conditions and the safety of both the team and victims, the evacuation was successfully completed around 2:00 AM, with both tourists unharmed,’ said Denpasar SAR’s field coordinator, Wahyu.

Victims Refuse Hospital Treatment

Denpasar Police reported that Shumskikh sustained no injuries, while Kristia had minor abrasions on both knees and the left palm.

‘After evacuation, both tourists declined hospital checks, stating they felt fine with no serious injuries and wished to return to their villa,’ Adi added.