Byron Haddow’s family reveal son’s last message before Bali death

The grieving parents of a 23-year-old Noosa FIFO worker have spoken about their agonising fortnight as they wait for his body to be returned from Bali and questions remain over the lead-up to his death.

A grieving Queensland mum has shared the feeling she carried the day her son died in Bali, knowing something was wrong before police knocked on her door that night.

Noosa man Byron Haddow, 23, died on May 26 in the Indonesian island paradise and, as his family waited for his body to return to Australia, mum Chantal Haddow revealed the grim feeling she had the day he died.

Mrs Haddow had checked the Life360 app, used by many families to keep track of their loved ones, and saw his phone went uncharged throughout the day and he had not left the Balinese villa.

“I sent him a few messages, and I hadn’t got a response,” she said.

The mum-of-three said the police later pulled up at the couple’s home in a quiet Cooroy street on the Sunshine Coast.

Robbie and Chantal Haddow are grieving their son Byron Haddow, 23, as questions remain over what caused his death last month in Bali. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Byron also lived there when he was home from working FIFO in the Northern Territory.

“We’d just turned all the lights off and they’ve shone the spotlights and as soon as I saw them walking up, I knew what they were going to tell me,” Mrs Haddow said.

Byron Haddow, a young FIFO worker from the Sunshine Coast, died while on holiday in Bali on May 26. Picture: Supplied

Husband Robbie Haddow recounted the last interactions between his wife and their son.

“Chantal being Chantal wanted to hear his voice and make sure he’s okay,” the grieving dad said.

“The last text he says, ‘I’m all right, Mum, I’m still alive’.”

The 18 days since Byron’s death had passed in an emotional blur for the couple who had to fit mourning into countless phone calls to Indonesian authorities, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, funeral homes and more.

The couple has set up a table with many flower bouquets and sympathy cards they have received since Byron’s death, along with their son’s treasured possessions. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Their son’s body was expected to be returned to Australia on the evening of, June 13, and a police investigation would continue on home soil with an autopsy expected to be conducted by the Queensland Coroner.

Byron’s funeral cannot happen until the autopsy is completed.

WHY MYSTERY SURROUNDS BYRON’S DEATH

Questions remain over a gap in Byron’s last known movements before his death while on holiday between FIFO work stints.

His parents know he went out in Legian, north of Kuta, and returned home to the private villa where he had stayed for days.

What happened in the hours before Byron’s death, however, remained a mystery.

Mr Haddow said he could not comment further because of the investigation.

Byron Haddow on a past trip to the Australian tourist hotspot. He had holidayed there a few times before this latest trip.

“We have no answers to how our son passed away,” he said.

The couple has a family friend, who lives in Bali and can speak the language, who became their representative as the Indonesian investigation rolled out.

Mr Haddow said the family just wanted answers.

‘WISE, KIND’: PARENTS’ TRIBUTE TO SON

Mr Haddow said Byron was wise beyond his years and even doing tip runs with him when he was boy would result in Byron chatting with the manager.

“He’d have an adult conversation from the age of six,” he said.

Mrs Haddow said their oldest son, one of three children, was a “wise” soul from an early age.

Robbie and Chantal Haddow with their son Byron’s ute with personalised number plates alluding to one of his nicknames, ‘Bizza’. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“He was kind, respectful and generous,” she said.

The mourning dad said his son was a hard worker who was still a teenager when he started supervising crews after he finished his house rendering apprenticeship, before he entered the mining industry.

The couple has fresh tattoos of the Japanese symbols Byron had inked on his body, with more than 10 of his friends doing the same.

“It means ‘still water runs deep’,” Mrs Haddow said.

She said the meaning suited her son.

The couple, along with more than 10 of Byron’s friends, now have the same tattoo that meant so much to Byron. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The tattoo on Robbie Haddow that matches his eldest son’s tattoo. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The popular renderer had worked FIFO at Nathan River Resources in the Northern Territory for the past 14 months, with Mr Haddow also employed by the mining business in the past.

The mine shut down production in the wake of Byron’s death, allowing his workmates to grieve.

“Goes to show how tight-knit the community is in the mine site,” Mr Haddow said.

The head boilermaker, Nath ‘Fruity’ Mitch, also spent days making a sculpture to honour Byron, which was moved to the wet mess in the camp.

“The general manager of the mine site was happy to pay this boilermaker four or five days’ work to do a sculpture for him,” Mr Haddow said.

Head boilermaker at Nathan River Resources in the NT, Nath 'Fruity' Mitch, has made a sculpture honouring Byron Haddow following his shock death in Bali on May 26, 2025. Picture: Contributed

“That’s unheard of.”

Mrs Haddow acknowledged all who had donated to the GoFundMe, and said the money had helped with bringing Byron home.

The couple had received many flower bouquets and sympathy cards that were set up on a table with pictures of Byron along with his fishing rod and other prized possessions.

COMMUNITIES IN MOURNING

Byron grew up in the Noosa region, going to primary schools in Noosa and Cooroy before attending Noosa District State High School.

Some of Byron’s most prized possessions along with photos of him and flowers the Haddow family has received in the days after his death. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Mr Haddow said the kindness the family had received from the Noosa and FIFO communities was incredible, along with support from Nathan River Resources.

“Even Byron’s boss has spent the last three days here, just to show his support,” Mr Haddow said.

Moving forward, the father said he wanted to raise awareness in other young people of possible dangers in Bali.

“We’ve been over there a dozen times, Byron’s been over there three or four times, we love the place but it just seems these days after Covid they seem to be targeting young Australians,” Mr Haddow said.

Mrs Haddow said there were always dangers and young travellers needed to be made aware of them.

Originally published as Byron Haddow’s family reveal son’s last message before Bali death