Australian Woman Found Dead In Bali, No Sign Of Foul Play Indicated

A 54-year-old Australian woman holidaying in Bali, Indonesia has been found dead in her hotel room on Friday morning. According to police, she was found dead in room no. 104 of the Akmani Hotel in Legian, around 8AM local time. However, it is confirmed that her death doesn’t indicate any sign of criminal activity or violence.

The woman was in Bali with her sister and friends, was complaining of difficulty in breathing from Thursday. The head of forensics at Sanglah hospital, Ida Bagus Putu Alit, who performed an internal investigation, said it found no sign of trauma. “We only find signs of asphyxiation, like blue on the lips and under the nails. We allege that she was sick,” he said.

The hotel's manager said the woman had even gone to a clinic nearby for an initial check-up. "She looked a bit unwell yesterday," he said. "Her friend comes to the lobby and confirmed she has died already at eight in the morning."

According to hotel records, they had checked-in on March 7 and was due to check out on March 20.

The woman, believed to be from Carlton had a history of illness, said the hotel staff from the information they gathered from the friends and relatives accompanying her in the trip. The chief of the Kuta police criminal investigative unit Dewa Tagel Wijasa said police found nothing suspicious about her sudden demise. "She died of an illness, a lung infection," he said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to her family. However, the department refused to provide any further information respecting family’s privacy.

Formalities when someone dies abroad

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's website of Australian Government writes, “The Australian Government will do what it can to help families and friends who have lost a loved one overseas. However, there are legal and practical limits to what can be done on their behalf.”

Travel insurance is always handy

Travel insurance often covers costs incurred after death, including costs associated with local funerals or arranging the return of the deceased to Australia. However, when an Australian travels overseas without sufficient insurance cover, it is the responsibility of the family to arrange for funeral formalities or bear the costs of bringing the deceased back to Australia. Hence, it is strongly recommend that all Australians travelling overseas must be have adequate travel insurance, to cover the costs of hospitalisation or medical treatment and in worst circumstances, the costs involved with after death formalities.

Add the numbers below to your speed dial, travel diary or on tip of the tongue:

The 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre in Canberra can be contacted for assistance from anywhere in the world on +61 2 6261 3305, or on 1300 555 135 within Australia.

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