Bali Bombings: Damien Swain recalls horrific moment he knew his big brother was gone

Split-second decisions meant the difference between life or death for one former Toowoomba student. Now, his family has reflected on the terrorist behind the Bali terrorist attack walking free.

Two decades after 202 people were brutally murdered in the blasts in the heart of Bali’s nightlife district, one of the men responsible is set to walk free after serving half of his sentence.

Damien Swain still struggles with the pain of his brother Nathan’s death 20 years on from the 2002 terrorist attack, and has expressed anger and heartbreak after the decision was made to release the expert bomb maker behind the horror event.

Umar Patek, who was one of the bomb makers behind the October 12, 2002 Bali Bombings, is set to be released after serving half of his 20-year sentence, due to authorities claiming he had be deradicalised.

“To target innocent civilians and such a massive loss of life, particularly young life … it’s a cowardly act,” Swain said.

“No one there was doing anything wrong, they weren’t hurting anyone, they weren’t involved in whatever political or religious reasons are behind things … they were young people having a good time and living their lives.

“It was a pretty weak act.”

24-year-old Nathan Swain has just arrived at the Sari Club when a bomb detonated outside the popular nightclub on October 12, 2002. Picture: supplied.

About 11pm on October 12, 2002, three bombs were detonated in the tourist destination of Kuta, on the island of Bali – at two popular nightclubs Paddy’s Bar and the Sari Club, and another in front of the American embassy.

One year after the horrific 9/11 attacks, 202 people, including 88 Australians, were killed in what is now known as the Bali Bombings.

Arrested and charged for his involvement in 2011, Patek was approved for parole in mid-August, with reports claiming he was set to be released in a matter of days.

It is understood Patek had ties to Al Qaeda, in which leader Osama bin Laden reportedly gave terror group Jemaah Islamiah $30,000 to wage jihad, a claim Patek denied.

The frustration sprayed with each word, Swain admitted while everything was his own feelings and he could not speak for other victims or loved ones, Patek did not deserve mercy.

“There is really nothing but evil that results in the loss of 202 people and injures more,” he said.

“It’s not just the immediate impact, but the ongoing impact and trauma for families and everyone else … it scars a lot of people emotionally and physically.

“If you’re prepared to perform an act, I don’t care if you say you’re reformed or you’ve seen the light or you’re a nice person. You were prepared to do something like that, then you should serve the full consequences.”

Buildings and cars are on fire after a bomb blast in tourist site of Kuta, Bali 13 October 2002. AFP PHOTO/ DARMA.

Indonesian militant Umar Patek arrive in handcuffs and escorted by armed police commandos at the Jakarta court on April 19, 2012. Patek was convicted as a bombmaker of the deadly 2002 Bali Bombings and has since been granted parole. AFP PHOTO / ROMEO GACAD

It “feels like yesterday” that the world was rocked by the catastrophic terror attack that left families asking why.

Though 20 years have since passed, the shock of losing his big brother, Nathan was still as raw as it was when Swain and his family first received the world-crumbling news.

Former Toowoomba Grammar student, Nathan ’Swainey’ Gregory Swain, 24, was living in Jakarta at the time and had just stepped out of a taxi at the Sari Club ready to celebrate a rugby tournament with mates when the bombs detonated.

“Some (of the ISCI Komodos rugby players) were only coming into that part of Kuta and were still 50 metres up the road (when the bombs exploded),” Swain said.

“They knew their mates were there … but they couldn’t reach them.”

With weighted breath, Swain recounted the moment his stomach dropped and he knew his ‘larger than life’ big brother was lost in the horrific blast.

“It was around 6.30 in the morning and I was up doing a bit of work, when I heard it (on the radio),” he said.

“I had an immediate sinking feeling that if this has gone down … well the boys would have been out having a good night.

“I rang my dad straight away and asked if he had heard the news, and he said ‘nah’. He rang me back about an hour later and said ‘Yeah, it’s not real good, mate’.”

After his teammates confirmed he was at the club, Nathan was declared missing, presumed dead.

The Chronicle October 19, 2002 reports former Grammar student Nathan Swain is missing, presumed dead, after Bali Bombing a week earlier.

It would be some time before he was confirmed deceased, along with five of his friends, Merv Popadynec, Rob Thwaites, Jamie Wellington, Ben Roberts and Scott Lysaght.

“They were frantically looking for them … it was chaotic,” Swain said.

Having grown up in North Queensland and completed his schooling in Toowoomba, Nathan was described as a “top bloke” who was “proof that the good die young”.

“He was a big character with a big personality,” Swain said.

“He was a real happy, cheeky lad, and a real country boy at heart.

“He really enjoyed his mates, sport, his work … it’s hard to think of the correct words to describe him.”

Damien Swain at his brother Nathan’s memorial following his murder at Kuta, Bali on October 12, 2002.

Nathan Swain’s horrific murder has been felt through the generations, with loved ones coming together each year to remember, cherish, and check in on each other.

“Everyone handles grief, trauma and loss in a different way,” Swain said.

“You go through phases where the pain and grief is more present, and other times where it’s not.

“But each year, it’s an opportunity for people to get together, and if you’re hurting, you can talk about it. And if you don’t want to, that’s okay too. But the opportunity is there to be together and have a yarn.”

“Some (of the ISCI Komodos rugby players) were only coming into that part of Kuta and were still 50 metres up the road (when the bombs exploded),” Swain said.

“They knew their mates were there … but they couldn’t reach them.”

With weighted breath, Swain recounted the moment his stomach dropped and he knew his ‘larger than life’ baby brother was lost in the horrific blast.