Overview

On the fateful night of October 12, 2002, I was in the Sari Club, which is located in the busy entertainment precinct of Kuta, Bali - one of Indonesia's key international tourist destinations. It was hot and humid, the music was pumping and everyone was talking, laughing and dancing. Seated behind the sunken bar, I struck up conversation with two Australian girls. Suddenly, a deafening explosion rocked the Legian beach strip. We looked south towards Paddy's Bar and witnessed a black mushroom cloud of smoke rise from the roof. Someone shouted, 'What the hell was that?' Only seconds later, the Bintang bottle in my hand shattered, as a powerful car bomb ripped apart the Sari Club. I was buried alive and fighting for my life! This despicable attack was carried out by the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist network. It claimed the lives of 202 people, including 88 Australians. 240 were wounded, including me. Suffering severe burns to 60% of my body, I also had to cope with shrapnel injuries, bi-lateral hearing loss, swelling on the brain and severe infection. After being told that I would not survive, I spent 44 days in an induced coma, fighting to stay alive. When I finally learned to walk again and regain movement in all parts of my body, I was the last Bali bombings survivor to leave a Western Australian hospital...some 2 months and 21 days after first being admitted. There is no doubt that severe burn injuries have the potential to be soul-destroying. However, with careful management and an excellent support base, you can recover and go on to lead a relatively normal, happy and fulfilled life. I hope this book provides some inspiration to those of you who have suffered the indignity of burn injuries, but have had the great fortune to survive them! 50% of proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the Fiona Wood Foundation.

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9780645592405

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Reviews

There are few greater challenges than recovering from a severe burn. Antony did just that, with an innate motivation and competitiveness that I rarely observe in burn patients. His inner drive pushed him to work with unbelievable tenacity, exercising with physiotherapists to beat his scar...and ultimately, the terrorists who almost took his life. He showed exceptional and sustained grit over years to regain his function, undergoing dozens of surgeries and associated stints of hardcore rehab in order to return to participation and restore a new and meaningful life for himself. I admired reading Antony's recollections of those traumatic times. Assoc Prof Dale Edgar - Head, Burn Injury Research Node, The University of Notre Dame Australia.

Author Information

Born in 1976 at Woodside Hospital in East Fremantle, I was the youngest son of migrant parents Paul and Marija Svilicich who came to Australia in the early 1960's in search of a better life.I had a normal upbringing with fond memories of playing backyard cricket and soccer. In 2002, my life was turned upside down when I suffered severe burns to 60% of my body, shrapnel injuries, bi-lateral hearing loss, swelling on the brain and severe infection in the Bali Bombings. After being told I would not survive, I spent 44 days in an induced coma, fighting to stay alive. After having to learn how to walk again and regain movement in all parts of my body, I was the last Bali survivor to leave a West Australian hospital 2 months and 21 days after being admitted. Now fully recovered from my injuries, I work in the field of Workplace Health and Safety and volunteer for two community associations. I'm also an active supporter of Burns Research, having taken part in a number of research projects since my injury. In 2021, I participated in the Central Park Plunge, raising funds for the Fiona Wood Foundation.

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