A French tourist, identified as Nicolas, was found dead in Gili Panggang waters in Sekotong district, West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, on Friday.

"A search and rescue team found the body at 9:30 a.m., local time, 15 meters under water in Gili Panggang waters,” Mataram National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) spokesman I Putu Cakra Negara said.

Nicolas was reported missing on Thursday by his friends Julian, 29, and Benjamin, 42. Earlier in the day, the three Frenchmen and three local guides, Muhammad, Galih Purwono and Budi, left for Gili Panggang.

“They left at 8 a.m., local time, and arrived on the island at around 10 a.m. They immediately went diving. The others finished diving at 12 p.m., but Nicolas was nowhere to be found,” Cakra said.

The tourists then reported their concerns to the Selong Belanak Police, who later contacted Basarnas, Cakra added. (yan)