A family getaway to Lazarus Island took a heartbreaking turn when Kurnia Hardiman Surmadi, 43, died in what is believed to be a drowning incident. His stepdaughter, Yanna Aziman, announced on Facebook on March 29 that his body had been recovered after he was reported missing on Sunday.
Yanna, 28, remembered her stepfather as a devoted husband and father, expressing her grief in her post. She also pleaded with people to refrain from sharing videos of his body being discovered online, urging, “In this cruel, cruel world, let’s all practice some kindness and empathy.”
The Singapore police confirmed that they were notified about a suspected drowning at sea near Lazarus Island on March 27. His body was located on the island’s shoreline around 2:50 AM on March 29, and investigations are currently underway.
Yanna recounted that Kurnia had gone to the island on Saturday for a two-day trip with family and relatives, planning to return on Sunday afternoon. However, she received distressing news from her mother that Kurnia had gone missing since noon that day. He had decided to take a swim as soon as the family arrived at the beach.
While Yanna’s mother returned home with the rest of the family, she returned to the island the following day to continue searching for Kurnia. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) reported that they were alerted to the situation at 1:25 PM on Sunday and dispatched two marine vessels for the search operation. The SCDF’s resources were officially stood down on March 29.