How Bali drowning victim Jacob Vennix met wife Kimberley Fuller at Adelaide Coles

Just months ago, Bali drowning victim Jacob Vennix revealed the touching reason he wanted to run Adelaide’s City-Bay fun run blindfolded – and how it all began at a Coles checkout.

Jacob Vennix and Kimberley Fuller had been married for less than a fortnight when the waters of Bali tore them away from the future they could have had.

The 32-year-old South Australian drowned on Monday while honeymooning with his new bride, the pair having met nearly three years ago at a Coles supermarket check-out.

In August, Mr Vennix spoke to The Advertiser while preparing for the City-Bay fun run, remembering how he spotted his future wife’s four-year-old Isaac playing with a Guide Dogs box.

The soon-to-be couple struck up a conversation and love grew from there.

They even ended up naming their son Cole, who was born near-sighted, in memory of that life-changing meeting.

To raise money for Guide Dogs SA/NT, which supports Cole, Mr Vennix ran the entire 12km race completely blindfolded, raising more than $4000.

Jacob Vennix with wife Kimberley, sons Cole and Isaac, while preparing for his blindfolded City-Bay attempt. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Mr Vennix married Ms Fuller in mid-December and they spent their honeymoon in Bali, where he drowned on Monday off Pasut Beach. Picture: Instagram

“I want to know what it’s like to live without my vision and experience what I can only guess is Cole’s fear and hesitation,” Jacob told The Advertiser at the time.

“I also want to raise awareness that vision-impaired people can do the same things as those with full sight … people with limited vision can still do amazing things.”

Mr Vennix left his job at Panorama-based cleaning company Build Clean earlier in December, getting ready for a new career in disability work.

According to Build Clean founder Sam Ackland, Mr Vennix joined the company as a cleaner and through hard work was made the company’s South Australian manager.

Jacob Vennix with his wife Kimberley Fuller. Picture: Instagram

Pasut Beach in Tabanan, Bali, where Mr Vennix drowned while on his honeymoon. Picture: Bali.com

Moreover, he was “well-loved from day one” and “always your friend regardless of hierarchy”, according to Mr Ackland.

“He gave everyone a hug goodbye,” he said of Mr Vennix’s last day at his company.

“He’d worked his way up … and he was destined for great things.

“To think that 2025 was going to be his year and he was going to do what he was destined to do.”

According to local reports, just before 4pm on Monday Mr Vennix was taken away by the tide, which later returned him to the beach unconscious.

Ms Fuller, 38, administered CPR but he was pronounced dead at the local hospital.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been contacted for further information.

In October, Australian expat Craig Laidley also died in Bali’s waters after rushing in to help a drowning tourist.

The Perth-born 56-year-old successfully rescued the drowning person but was then swept away himself.