PADANGBAI ~ Petrus Soemen, 58, from Holland, died when he was overpowered by waves off Padangbai beach last Thursday afternoon, police said.

He had traveled from Denpasar to Karangasem with five friends to snorkel in the waters off Padangbai. When they first went out the conditions were relatively calm, with waves about a meter and a half high.

However, after about two hours, the weather took a drastic turn and the friends were caught out in very rough water. Local people quickly went to rescue them by boat, but Soemen was in a poor condition.

“When we tried to save his life, he was already critical” and died, said Soerjarna, a Karangasem Police spokesman.

The victim was taken straight to Amlapura Hospital for autopsy, and it was concluded that Soemen died from drowning after becoming fatigued fighting for his life.