Desperate search for Brit, 68, missing after being swept out to sea by freak tide while snorkelling with wife off Bali

A search and rescue operation is currently underway for an elderly Brit who was swept out to sea while snorkeling with his wife in Bali. Graham Smith, 68, went missing while snorkeling with his wife in the pristine waters of the Blue Lagoon Beach resort in the Karangasem Regency on the Indonesian island on Wednesday afternoon. NewsflashGraham Smith was snorkeling off the Blue Lagoon Beach resort in the Karangasem Regency when he disappeared[/caption] NewsflashA six-people search and rescue team has been dispatched to find Graham[/caption] Graham’s panic-stricken wife, who has not been identified, informed local authorities of his disappearance around 5:30pm, an hour after she reportedly emerged from the beach’s waters herself and began to wait for her husband’s return. A search and rescue operation for Graham began a few hours later at 10:25pm, according to the coordinator of the Karangasem Search and Rescue Team, Gusti Ngurah Eka Widnyana. “The search for the victim is still being carried out by a joint team,” Widnyana said. “So far, the victim has not been found.” READ MORE IN WORLD NEWS MID-AIR TRAUMA Mystery as Brit passenger found dead by wife on flight from UK to Cyprus BLOOD IN THE SAND Brit promoting Qatar World Cup found hanged ‘after secret police torture’ This was after Widnyana reportedly dispatched six rescue team members to the area in a speedboat. Widnyana said he is hoping that Graham will be found as soon as possible. Gede Darmada, the head of the Bali Basarnas government office, told local media that the search area for the missing Brit was divided into three sections on Thursday. “Yesterday’s search yielded no results, and today the search and rescue operation began this morning,” Darmada said. Most read in News REST IN PEACE Queen cause of death revealed as old age after officials release certificate 'HIGH ALERT' 'Gangster' Putin could knock out West's INTERNET after attack on gas pipeline ACTOR IN COURT Hollyoaks actor charged with rape and child cruelty offences FIND THEM Urgent police hunt for three schoolgirls aged 12, 13 & 14 who vanished overnight CRASH FEARS Planes collide at Heathrow sparking massive response from emergency services ROD LIDDLE Kwasi Kwarteng couldn't have outraged more people if he'd read Budget while nude Local officials have encouraged snorkelers to be mindful of the ever-changing weather conditions in Bali. Graham’s tragic disappearance comes after a 44-year-old Italian woman miraculously survived being hit by a powerful wave at Klungkung Beach in Indonesia in June. NewsflashLocal officials have warned of the dangers of Bali’s ever-changing weather conditions[/caption]