Bali bombings: Ex-Eagle Steven Armstrong recalls ‘screams, heat, waves of bodies jumping over wall’

Steven Armstrong saw things on the night of October 12, 2002, no one should ever see, let alone at the tender age of 18.

However, he may well have been spared from even worse by deciding with his mate David Robbins to close their eyes to the carnage for a few critical moments.

The West Coast Eagles premiership forward turned WAFL coach had only just started his professional career.

He was with teammates celebrating the end of a successful first season with Melbourne on a week-long trip to bustling Kuta when the nightmare unfolded.

“I was the baby of the playing group at that time,” Armstrong told The West Australian.

“The week leading up to that Saturday night was full of energy, friendship and certainly a lot of fun.

“We made sure we got together every night at about 6pm to enjoy each other’s company . . . then ventured out to either the Sari Club or Paddy’s Bar.”

Most of the team were flying out that evening but some lingered on the island a bit longer, including Armstrong, Robbins, Steven Febey and Jason McCartney.

Also in tow was family friend Peter Hughes, who became known as the face of the tragedy after showing deep concern for other victims in a hospital emergency department TV news interview despite suffering burns to half of his body that later resulted in him being revived from death three times.

“I knew I had still my four or five good mates there who wanted to come out,” Armstrong said.

After watching a movie, they headed to the Sari Club around 10pm.

Being young and eager to party, Armstrong was keen to get there as quick as he could but Febey insisted they walk.

That decision no doubt saved their lives.

“On approaching I had actually turned to face Paddy’s . . . what happened next was the Paddy’s Bar bomb went off,” Armstrong said.

“I got to my feet as quick as I could. I realised I had lost my thongs.

“The Sari Club bomb threw me another 10m to 15m. I had no idea really what was going on.”

Robbins was flung in the same direction.

“I quickly gathered him, held him,” Armstrong said.

“We found ourselves actually crouching under a motorcycle on the side of Paddy’s wall.

“I remember at that time thinking — whether it was the straw from the roofs or the the spitting of the fire in the smoke and the yelling and screaming — for some reason it was a gas explosion, aeroplanes bombing, a car explosion.

“But in terms of the depth of what we know now, I had no idea.

“The screams and the heat and the wave of bodies jumping over the wall . . . when it was our time to get in the ambulance, which might have been a good couple of hours, the ambulance went back down the lane and through the scene.

“We had a discussion about just closing our eyes for this three to four minutes while the ambulance had to get through.

“And to this day, I’m kinda glad I did.”

Armstrong was treated in hospital for pieces of glass embedded in the back of his head, a cut behind his right knee “and also had a bit of management” to his shoulders and a foot.

“I was lucky to be in a position to still be able to walk and it was just a matter of cleaning up what was there and just trying to get back because we had had no contact with anyone,” he said.

“But . . . we’re lucky enough to find each other during the day and give each other a hug. The emotions and relief I felt when leaving Bali was fairly immense.

“I still was instructed to get on the aeroplane in a wheelchair. My dad had flown over . . . I was really happy, happy to see my dad.”

Back home, doctors told him a skin graft had to be taken from his inner thigh to cover the cut behind his knee.

“I was fortunate enough for the ligaments not to be severed,” Armstrong said.

“Having that operation, then I realised that metal had shot up through my right foot and was pressing on a nerve in there, which caused some pain while walking.

“I worried about not playing. All I knew at that time was to play football.”

It was hard going but he got his body back ready to tackle the AFL again and eventually joined West Coast just in time for its victorious 2006 season.

“To enjoy the ultimate success after what I went through . . . I felt on top of the mountain,” Armstrong said.

Football still plays a huge part in his life and coaching is where he found his passion.

“I love seeing young kids develop and that holistic approach from being a fantastic football player to being a fantastic bloke off the field,” Armstrong said.

“I love what football does for people. It’s that fun and enjoyment but it’s also that reward.

“I see it as a release. I do what I do because I am a survivor.”

The 20th anniversary of the Bali bombings will be marked with loving messages from his family and friends, Armstrong said.

“All those who knew I was involved, they’ll throw their arms around me and support me as best they can and just be there,” he said.

Today, on the 20th anniversary of the Bali bombings, The West Australian remembers in a special 16-page wrap. The hero, the investigator, the doctors, the survivor. Read their stories, feel their emotion and remember those we lost. Only in The West Australian.