‘I lost my legs, but I’m one of the lucky ones that made it home’

Covered in blood and bandages, Bali bombing survivor Ben Tullipan’s frantic family knew he was alive only because of this image appearing on the news. READ HIS STORY.

It was the moment brave Bali bombing survivor Ben Tullipan’s family knew he was home alive – barely, but alive.

With horrific injuries suffered in the October 2002 terrorist bombings, the Gold Coaster was stretchered off an RAAF Hercules at Darwin Airport.

Covered in blood and bandages, Mr Tullipan was barely recognisable.

Bali bombing survivor Ben Tullipan arrives at Darwin Airport on October 14, 2002 after an RAAF Hercules medevac flight.

But when his family saw the distinctive large tattoo on his right arm in media pictures as he was wheeled across the tarmac, they knew he’d survived the atrocity which claimed 202 lives, most of them Aussies.

On the 19th anniversary of the bombings, Mr Tullipan – who lost both legs and suffered burns to 63 per cent of his body in the Sari Club blast – has taken to social media to recall the incident that changed his life forever.

“This is the moment my family knew I was back on home soil,” he posted on Facebook on Tuesday beneath a graphic newspaper photo of his medevac arrival in Darwin two days after bombings.

Bali bombing survivor Ben Tullipan and children Sheridan and Rory. Photo: Regi Varghese

“They saw this footage on the news and recognised my tattoo. This photo was taken as soon as I was stretchered off the Hercules at Darwin Airport. I still have my legs in this photo.

“I remember being told on the plane that we were preparing to land, I knew I had made it home and went into a coma. My family were told I had a five per cent chance of surviving.

“I’m one of the lucky ones that made it home and I will never forget the ones that didn’t.”

Mr Tullipan was the most severely injured of any of the survivors.

Ben Tullipan in action on the golf course

His Facebook followers praised his courage, calling him an ‘inspiration’.

The father of two was told by doctors he would never walk again but, with the help of bionic legs, has become an accomplished golfer and golf coach with Empower Golf Australia.