Strong Waves Sweep Away 18-Year-Old, Camera Captures Her Final Moment
The incident occured at Semeti Beach, Lombok, Indonesia.
By Aleya Natasha Mohd Ali — 26 Dec 2024, 12:06 PM
Merlin Septiana, 18, had her final moments captured on camera before strong currents swept her away at Semeti Beach, Indonesia
The incident occurred on 19 December, while she was taking pictures with her friends at the beach in Central Lombok Regency, reported The Sun.
Unknown to those around her, a photo taken by her friend captured Merlin smiling at the camera while sitting on rocks facing the ocean, just before being swept away by the waves.
Lalu Wahyu Efendi, head of the Mataram Search and Rescue Office, said Merlin's friends made desperate attempts to save her but were unsuccessful
"Efforts by her friends to help using makeshift tools such as wood and fishing rods were unsuccessful," he stated.
Footage from Viral Press captured Merlin desperately clinging to a boulder while the turbulent waters pounded her.
The Central Lombok Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) eventually located her body, which had been thrashing against the rocks in the violent waters after two hours of searching
Ridwan Mak'ruf, chief executive of BPBD, confirmed that Merlin was already dead when she was found.
It is believed that her headphones may have blocked the sound of the waves.
Merlin's body has been returned to her family in Tanak Awu village.
