Girlfriend taking Kiwi’s loss hard

The girlfriend of a Kiwi who died while trying to rescue her from a freak wave in Bali is taking his death ‘‘really hard’’, as she recovers in hospital after suffering a collapsed lung.

Leonie Hafke, 20, and Temson Junior Simeki, 23, were taking a selfie on the edge of a cliff at the Angel’s Billabong tourist spot last Monday when she was hit by a wave and swept into the sea.

Simeki, known as TJ, jumped in to try to save her but was washed away.

Hafke, a German national, was rescued about four hours later by an Australian snorkeller. Simeki’s body was found by fishermen on Friday.

Hafke remains in a Bali hospital, with both her family and Simeki’s by her bedside. She suffered a collapsed lung and it was not yet known when she would be released from hospital.

Speaking from Bali on Sunday, Simeki’s father, Temson Simeki Sr, said his family hoped to be able to bring his son’s body back to New Zealand on Wednesday.

‘‘We’re working with the authorities and everything’s in place. I’m just cautious that there might be any hold-ups or any problems we might come up against, but everything seems to be okay at the moment,’’ he said.

The family had not set a date for his funeral, as Hafke wanted to be able to attend.

‘‘I’m thinking that when TJ gets home, we’re going to try and delay the funeral until Leonie’s well enough to travel,’’ Simeki Sr said.

Physically, he said, she was ‘‘getting better every day’’.

However, Hafke was struggling with the loss of her boyfriend, with whom she’d been travelling around New Zealand and Asia for several months.

‘‘She’s taking it really hard,’’ Simeki Sr said.

‘‘They were really, really close. They’ve been together every day for the last two years, raising money for their Asia trip, camping in their car for a year or so, just working and saving to get to Asia, to travel around the world together.’’

His voice breaking, Simeki Sr said he and his wife, Minnie, were ‘‘trying to get by’’.

‘‘We’re always crying, but we’re trying to be strong for TJ and everyone, and we just can’t wait to get home.’’