Another Bali boat horror story…is it still worth the risk?
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Content warning: This article contains distressing details involving death and survival at sea.
What was meant to be a relaxing holiday in Bali turned into a nightmare within seconds.
An Australian traveller has spoken out about the terrifying moment his ferry capsized near the shore.
But it was what happened in the water afterwards that haunted him the most.
Liam, who had been travelling with two mates, said the ferry operator made a sudden turn into a large wave.
He shared that the sharp manoeuvre caused the boat to flip almost instantly.
‘I was on the top deck with two of my mates, so we were quite lucky and were almost kind of thrown out and away from the ferry, rather than being stuck inside it,’ he said.
The trio surfaced about 100 metres from the shore, disoriented but alive.
As they tried to make sense of what had just happened, the scene around them quickly became grim.
Liam said one moment, he was treading water—then he felt someone grab hold of him.
‘I popped up and there was a younger Indonesian guy who actually couldn’t swim and he grabbed hold of me, but I pushed him away because there was nothing I could really do,’ he said.
Liam’s voice shook as he revealed what happened next.
‘He was actually one of the guys who passed away, so that was pretty confronting for my mates and I to see him go through.’
The tragedy has raised questions around safety standards and ferry operations in the region.
It is still unclear how many passengers were on board when the vessel capsized, or how many lives were lost.
Survivors were quickly assisted by locals and authorities as they made it to land.
But for Liam and others on the ferry, the trauma of what happened in the water will linger long after their trip ends.
Watch the full report below.
Source: Youtube/ABC News (Australia)
Stories like Liam’s remind us that things can go wrong, even on short trips close to home.
If you’re planning a getaway soon, it’s worth knowing what other recent travellers have faced—and how to avoid common risks.
This next story covers the latest safety alerts and what to watch out for before you head overseas.
Read more: Aussies face new travel warnings before trips abroad
For some travellers, the most painful memories of a trip are the ones they never expected to bring home.
What was meant to be a relaxing holiday in Bali turned into a nightmare within seconds.
An Australian traveller has spoken out about the terrifying moment his ferry capsized near the shore.
But it was what happened in the water afterwards that haunted him the most.
Liam, who had been travelling with two mates, said the ferry operator made a sudden turn into a large wave.
He shared that the sharp manoeuvre caused the boat to flip almost instantly.
‘I was on the top deck with two of my mates, so we were quite lucky and were almost kind of thrown out and away from the ferry, rather than being stuck inside it,’ he said.
Ferry flipped after sharp turn into wave. Image source: Youtube/ABC News Australia
The trio surfaced about 100 metres from the shore, disoriented but alive.
As they tried to make sense of what had just happened, the scene around them quickly became grim.
Liam said one moment, he was treading water—then he felt someone grab hold of him.
‘I popped up and there was a younger Indonesian guy who actually couldn’t swim and he grabbed hold of me, but I pushed him away because there was nothing I could really do,’ he said.
Liam’s voice shook as he revealed what happened next.
‘He was actually one of the guys who passed away, so that was pretty confronting for my mates and I to see him go through.’
The tragedy has raised questions around safety standards and ferry operations in the region.
It is still unclear how many passengers were on board when the vessel capsized, or how many lives were lost.
Survivors were quickly assisted by locals and authorities as they made it to land.
But for Liam and others on the ferry, the trauma of what happened in the water will linger long after their trip ends.
Watch the full report below.
Source: Youtube/ABC News (Australia)
Stories like Liam’s remind us that things can go wrong, even on short trips close to home.
If you’re planning a getaway soon, it’s worth knowing what other recent travellers have faced—and how to avoid common risks.
This next story covers the latest safety alerts and what to watch out for before you head overseas.
Read more: Aussies face new travel warnings before trips abroad
For some travellers, the most painful memories of a trip are the ones they never expected to bring home.
