An Australian surfer has died during a popular break off Indonesia's East Java province.
Local authorities found the body of Gunter Henry Kitzler at about 8.45am local time (12.45pm AEST) on Tuesday, more than 24 hours after he was swept away by strong currents off Grajajan Beach, a popular surfing hotspot known as G-Land.
Longtime Bali expatriate Gunther Kitzler, originally from Bondi, at the Quiksilver Uluwatu Challenge off Bali in 2014.credit: Jason Childs/Quicksilver
The 56-year-old was with friends believed to be a New Zealander and another Australian. Kitzler fell into the water early Monday morning, 10 minutes before the others, according to the Surabaya search and rescue agency.
“Fifteen minutes later, the two people saw Gunter's surfboard floating with Gunter's feet still tied to the surfboard. While trying to help Gunter get to shore, suddenly a large wave appeared that caused the surfboard's rope to break,” the agency said.
Kitzler, who lived in Sydney before moving to Indonesia, was swept away. His body was found five kilometers from where he was last seen.
It is not known whether he had a medical episode before losing consciousness or whether he was a victim of these conditions.
The Indonesian authorities found the man's body about five kilometers from where he was surfing with his friends.
Known for its big, hollow waves, Garajagan Beach has eight distinct breaks with difficulty levels ranging from intermediate to advanced.
“Know your limits, G-Land can give you some of the best waves of your life, but the process will likely require a little skin or bones,” Surf Indonesia warns.
