Bali bombing survivor Peter Hughes says killers paid the price

AUSTRALIAN survivor Peter Hughes says the Bali bombers have paid the highest price for mass murder, but their executions do not bring him any joy.

SURVIVOR ... Peter Hughes pictured shortly after the 2002 bombings.

AUSTRALIAN survivor Peter Hughes says the Bali bombers have paid the highest price for mass murder, but their executions have not brought him any joy.

"These guys went to set about mass murder and paid the highest penalty," Hughes told CNN from Perth after hearing the three men had been executed by firing squad in Indonesia.

"It doesn't feel good but they did do the crime and they've paid for it."

Mr Hughes suffered burns to more than 50 per cent of his body in the Paddy's Bar blast on October 12, 2002.

He also suffered a serious leg injury and what he called "horrific" cuts to his body.

It took him two years to recover.

"We had to fight for our life pretty hard back then," he said.

Mr Hughes described the carnage he witnessed when he emerged from Paddy's Bar, where he was injured by the first suicide blast.

"I was only a few metres away from the suicide bomber when the bomb exploded. At that point I struggled to get out of that nightclub, and as I went to walk out ... they set the car bomb off (outside the Sari Club).

"It was just horrific to see so many people just lying there and burning, basically burning to death. It's too close, the memories, too fresh."

He said the bombings took a heavy toll on his body but it was the mental scars that were the worst.

"It's what's on the inside," he said.

"You cop it mentally and I guess that's the worst scar of all because you're living it every day ... and every day is a battle because it takes you back to that moment.

"It's all over for them (the bombers) now, but I've still got to get up tomorrow and do the exact same thing.

"It's just a tough battle. Physically I feel great now, but mentally it's a struggle."

Mr Hughes said he hoped there would be no reprisal attacks, despite the bombers urging others to avenge their executions.

"I just hope others realise these guys are cold-blooded murderers. Most sensible people would," he said.

He said he'd been lucky because he'd never spent much time thinking about the three bombers.

"I've never thought about them for a moment, so I've been very fortunate there," he said.