Tragic last photo of teen girl, 18, moments before she’s washed away by wave to her death in front of horrified friends
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THIS is the tragic last moment of a teen girl's life before she was washed away by a wave - as her friends watched on in horror. Merlin Septiana, 18, was having fun with her friends taking pictures at a beach in Indonesia on Thursday before a photo unknowingly captured her final moments.
![[The photo of Merlin was taken moments before she vanished]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/254a1bea-2840-4b26-8d29-ae5b64280667.jpg?strip=all&w=720)
The photo shows Merlin resting on a rock that's facing the roaring ocean of Semeti Beach in the Central Lombok Regency. Taken seconds before her horrifying demise at 3pm local time, the young girl can be seen wearing headphones and smiling at the camera.
![[A desperate search was carried out to try and rescue Merlin, but it was no use]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/a1bda9bc-d38a-4560-9d0c-990c8484bfc0.jpg?strip=all&w=775)
Footage shows frantic locals trying to rescue Merlin, seen in the video desperately clinging onto a boulder as the churning waters battered her. People can be heard wailing and screaming in the background, as they are unable to do anything but stare out at the ocean in disbelief.
![[A piece of white fabric can be seen washed up on the rocks, which could be Merlin although it is unconfirmed]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/88f54626-2fff-400e-a6db-aa8744e43825_508830.jpg?strip=all&w=904)
There appears to be a piece of white fabric lying on the rocks, too, which could be a piece of Merlin's clothes. Lalu Wahyu Efendi, head of the Mataram Search and Rescue Office, said Merlin's friends tried desperately to save her with tools. He said: "Efforts by her friends to help using makeshift tools such as wood and fishing rods were unsuccessful.
![[Those trying to rescue Merlin tried to reach her, but struggled to overcome the powerful waters that took her]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/94f93ffd-f975-4612-880b-4fc97202ff57.jpg?strip=all&w=706)
"Local residents immediately reported to the police.". It took two agonising hours for authorities to locate Merlin's body, which was being thrashed against the rocks by the violent waters. From vanishing around 3pm, it took until 5.13pm for Merlin's corpse to be discovered.
