Bali boat tragedy victim remembered for her ‘passion and kindness’

Singapore/Bali: Two Australians injured when a snorkelling boat capsized off Bali remain in hospital while a third was treated and released following the tragedy that killed Melbourne-based insolvency expert and “exceptional leader” Anna Blight.

The four Australians and seven other foreign tourists were on their way from the beach resort town of Sanur to the popular island of Nusa Penida on Friday for a guided snorkelling tour when the boat overturned in rough seas.

Anna Blight was killed when a snorkelling boat capsized off Bali.Credit: Cor Cordis

It is believed Blight became trapped under the boat with an Estonian girl and some of the Indonesian crew. The young girl and the crew members escaped.

The three surviving Australians were all injured, at least one of them, 32-year-old Cintamani Warrington, seriously.

Blight, who reportedly celebrated her 39th birthday just two days before the accident, was believed to have been travelling with her friend Lisa Bell, who was treated for bruising before being released to gather the pair’s possessions from their Bali villa.

Warrington and her 28-year-old partner Gabriel Hijniakoff were still in hospital on Sunday being treated for burns, possibly from engine fuel or other chemicals.

Gabriel Hijniakoff (Gabe), and Cintamani Warrington (Tam) are stuck in Bali with serious burns.Credit: GoFundMe

Blight’s workplace, advisory firm Cor Cordis, released a statement on Sunday describing her as a true friend to the many who knew and loved her for her “generosity, integrity and unwavering support for her colleagues”.

“From the moment she joined our firm, I had the privilege of watching her grow into the remarkable person she became,” chief executive Daniel Juratowitch said.

“Her passion, determination and kindness inspired everyone around her. She had an incredible future ahead, and her loss is deeply felt by all of us.”

Blight had last year become a registered trustee in bankruptcy, “a testament to her expertise and dedication in a field where fewer than 16 per cent of registered trustees are women”, the statement said.

“She was passionate about promoting diversity within the profession and actively mentored other women to achieve their goals.”

Investigators believe a floating log had knocked out the boat’s engine, leaving it vulnerable to the waves that tipped it over.

A GoFundMe page set up by the families of Warrington and Hijniakoff, titled “Help Gabriel and Tam Get Home for Urgent Medical Recovery”, had raised almost $20,000 by late Sunday afternoon.

The page said the couple were on a “much-needed holiday” in Bali when the snorkelling day trip turned into a nightmare. Tam, as Warrington is known, suffered extensive burns while Hijniakoff sustained “significant” injuries.

Police have released this image of the capsized boat in the waters off Nusa Penida.Credit: AP

“Both were left stranded on the boat for an extended period along [with] other passengers and did not receive timely medical attention or transfers,” the page said. “Unfortunately, one woman tragically lost her life in this tragic incident.

“They lost crucial personal belongings, including their phones, passports, and wallets, making it even harder to arrange medical transfers and recovery efforts.”

An update posted on Sunday said Warrington had undergone surgery on Saturday to clean and assess her wounds, and both she and her partner were in a stable condition and awaiting emergency passports to be processed so they could be flown home to Australia.

“[Tam] is currently being managed through pain medication heavily to ensure she is as comfortable as possible until the next stage of action,” Olivia Hijniakoff wrote on the page.

“The longer the delay of retrieval, the higher the impact on their mental stability and the higher the risk of infection … We appreciate your love, support and empathy, however please remember, whilst this has become a public matter; it’s important to remember they are people too and have been through a traumatic event not just physically.”

With Ashleigh McMillan

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