Tragic reason woman was in Bali before horror accident

The tragic reason an Australian woman was in Bali before suffering catastrophic injuries in a horror accident has been revealed.

An Australian woman who suffered catastrophic brain and facial injuries after a mystery accident in Bali had been on the island for one very tragic reason.

Dance teacher Rebecca Ode had been on a “six month break” on the Indonesian holiday island and was reportedly the happiest she had been in a long time before the horror accident.

The 36-year-old was meant to be celebrating her birthday before she was found semiconscious on a road near Jungut Batu Beach on the island of Nusa Lembongan, southeast of Bali, at 1am last Tuesday.

She was flown to a hospital in the island’s capital, Denpasar, where she had to undergo 14 hours of brain, eye and reconstructive surgery for a shattered eye socket, broken collarbone and brain haemorrhage.

Rebecca Ode suffered a horrific accident in Bali. Picture: Supplied

Family members have said that Ms Ode will “definitely lose one eye” while doctors fight to save her vision in the other.

It is understood that her medical evacuation back to Australia is now underway after her family raised an incredible $206,000 in a GoFundMe appeal.

An air ambulance could see Ms Ode arriving back in the country within hours.

It has now been revealed that she was over in Bali to help heal from trauma after her father took his own life.

Kevin Ode, 60, died in April 2022, a loss which left his family devastated, according toDaily Mail Australia.

‘What happened to me?’

Speaking to news.com.au, Ms Ode’s brother-in-law Jesse Wilton said they did not know the exact details behind her horror injuries.

“No one knows what happened to her,” he said of the accident.

“We have no idea how the injury happened … there was no alcohol … and the extent of her injuries is quite traumatic.”

Police in Bali told Daily Mail Australia that Ms Ode had been riding on a Yamaha scooter and lost control when she then collided with a parked motorcycle.

The 36-year-old is expected to be home in Australia within hours. Picture: GoFundMe

The report stated that it was a clear night with a dark sky when the incident occurred. There had apparently been “not much traffic” on the road.

It is understood that Ms Ode was unable to remember the incident, with her first words to medical staff when she woke up being “What happened to me?”

Mr Wilton said his sister-in-law will lose at least one eye, and that the damage to her face is so severe it will never return to the same structural condition again.

“She has haemorrhaging on the brain and has a fractured cheek and jaw almost beyond repair,” he said.

“She will lose one eye if not two, and has titanium plates in collar bones.”

She did not know what had happened to her when she woke up. Picture: Supplied

‘Split in half’

Mr Wilton, who is engaged to Ms Ode’s younger sister, started the fundraiser to assist in the astronomical medical bills mounting for the family.

“The main outcome is to get her out of Bali and get her into Aussie care,” he said.

“[We are looking at] $140,000 for a Medivac and close to $70,000 in hospital bills.

“So we are bracing for a quarter of a million dollars just to get her home.”

He confirmed both Ms Ode’s mother Shari and sister Jordyn had travelled to Bali to be by her side at the hospital.

“Her recovery journey is unknown [but] we know Bec will continue fighting her best fight with her strong will and determination,” he wrote on the fundraising page.

“Her family are going to bring her home no matter what it takes.”

Ms Ode’s injuries were horrific, with her family sharing more details online.

“The impact completely pushed her eye out of her head, and the damage was so severe they weren’t sure they could save the eye at all,” her sister Jordyn said on Facebook.

“Her nose was split in half, and the cartilage was shattered. They had to rebuild her face, and I am desperate to get her home for professional help.

“The orthopaedic surgeons repaired her collarbone and shoulder, which were also hit. She now has a metal plate to keep her clavicle together.”

The sisters are well-known and respected dancers in the Newcastle area. Ms Ode had also worked more recently at SeaWorld.

— With Vanessa Brown