An Australian mother who brought exploding balloons to Bali’s Gado-Gado restaurant says she’s now trapped on the holiday island after Indonesian police seized her family’s passports.
Caitlin Speedy had purchased the party balloons for her mother’s 70th birthday celebration, but the night turned to disaster when they suddenly exploded, sparking an inferno at the popular restaurant.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Australian family trapped in Bali after balloon explosion
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow
“I have no idea why they exploded,” Speedy said. “They just … it just went up.”
As diners fled for their lives, the 35-year-old mother bravely ran back towards the flames.
“I just looked at my family and said, ‘I’ve got to go back’. And I ran straight through. I just didn’t want anyone to die,” she said.
Speedy’s 17-year-old son was burnt in the blaze. While he’s now out of hospital, the family’s nightmare is far from over.
Bali police seized the family’s passports, leaving them stranded on the island. Speedy says she’s done nothing wrong but feels like she’s being treated like a criminal.
“We’re only pulled in as witnesses and yet we’re still being treated differently,” she said.
Her partner Jye Wals questioned why the family was being singled out.
“I don’t think we should be held here,” he said. “There were 300 people in the building; like everyone else essentially is a witness.”
Speedy blames the balloon seller for the incident.
“I was horrified,” she said. “I felt like they had literally sold me a ticking time bomb.”
Kuta police initially returned the passports, but when Speedy’s son and parents tried to fly home on Sunday morning, their travel documents were again seized at the airport.
“So having your passport really doesn’t mean anything,” she said. “Next step is to try and sort out with immigration as to why we’re not able to leave.”
A milestone birthday this family now just wants to forget.
COVID-era chaos hits Aussie airports a day after Qantas flight diverted
2 min read
Flights cancelled as volcanic ash chaos closes major Indonesian airport
1 min read
