Five tourists were rescued after being swept into rocks by rough waves at Bai Tien Beach on Jan. 19. Authorities received the first alert at 7:58 a.m. and completed the extraction around noon after nearly two hours of operations. Two people were reportedly trapped in an approximately 11-inch-wide crevice about 160 feet from where they entered the water; one suffered a head injury and another was unable to move. All five were taken to Phu Yen General Hospital for treatment, and authorities reported no fatalities.
Five Tourists Rescued After Being Trapped in Narrow Rock Crevice at Bai Tien Beach
Dak Lak Provincial PoliceTrapped tourists rescued from rock crevice in Tien Beach in Vietnam
A group of five tourists was rescued after being swept into rocks by rough surf at Bai Tien Beach in Vietnam on Jan. 19. Emergency responders reached the scene after an early-morning alert and completed the extraction after nearly two hours in hazardous conditions.
Incident and Response
At 7:58 a.m. local time, the Dak Lak Provincial Police (DLP) received reports that five people had been "swept away by the waves" and were stuck among the rocks while picnicking and swimming. The DLP identified the group as U.S. citizens Eliza Dreher (born 2003) and Willian Anderson (born 1968); Danish national Vilde Danisl (born 2006); German national Nicholas Theophanous (born 2006); and Vietnamese national Hoang Anh (born 1992).
Dak Lak Provincial PoliceRescue workers saving tourists trapped in a rock crevice at Tien Beach in Vietnam on Jan. 19
Authorities described the victims as being at a "high risk of drowning" because of rough seas and large waves. The Vietnam Police and Fire Department launched an immediate sea-and-shore rescue operation to reach the stranded group.
Rescue Operation
"After almost two hours of struggling with the waves and danger at sea, the forces Police PCCC and Police Department of Dak Lak Province have successfully rescued a group of foreign tourists who were trapped in a rocky cliff by the sea waves, bringing them to safety shore," the DLP wrote in an update.
Footage released by authorities shows rescue teams hauling a young woman from between rocks and carrying another person away on a stretcher. Local outlets reported that two members of the group — Vilde Danisl and Nicholas Theophanous — were swept into a narrow crevice roughly 11 inches (about 28 cm) wide and more than 160 feet (about 49 m) from where they entered the water.
Dak Lak Provincial PoliceTourists trapped in rock crevice during rough seas in Vietnam on Jan. 19
One of the victims sustained a head injury and another was reported "unable to move" when found. All five were transferred by ambulance to Phu Yen General Hospital for treatment.
Challenges Faced by Rescuers
Rescue teams had to negotiate slippery, moss-covered rocks and dangerous underwater terrain to reach the victims. Emergency services, including fire-and-rescue units and ambulances, coordinated the extraction and medical transport.
Authorities have not reported any fatalities. Local police and emergency services continue to investigate the circumstances that led to the group being swept into the rocks.
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