A HERO of the Bali bombings who helped save countless lives when terrorists blew up two nightclubs has died.
Erik de Haart was hailed for his courage after pulling dozens of victims from the wreckage in Kuta in the aftermath of the attack in October 2002.
APThe ruins of a nightclub destroyed by an explosion in Bali[/caption]
AFPErik de Haart displays a t-shirt designed to mark the 10th anniversary of the attacks near the Bali bombing monument in Kuta[/caption]
He was at an end-of-season club trip with the Coogee Dolphins rugby team when terrorists detonated bombs in two bars – killing 202 people.
Brave Mr de Haart, from Sydney, died on Sunday more than two decades on at the age of 67 of a suspected underlying health issue.
Club president Wayne Hack said: “It is with profound sadness that we advise the sudden passing of Coogee Dolphins life member Erik de Haart.
“Erik was a loyal servant, life member and sponsor of our club.
“He will forever be remembered in the immediate aftermath of the Bali tragedy of 2002 as a hero.
“Erik continued his ongoing support of the Coogee Dolphins for many years and in 2005 was honoured with a life membership.”
Mr de Haart was making his way back to the Sari Club on October 12, 2002 after helping a friend back to his hotel when explosions ripped through the venue and Paddy’s Bar.
Fearlessly, he ran into the burning building to help rescue those injured.
Six of Mr de Haart’s teammates were killed in the atrocity.
The blasts killed 202 people from 33 different nations, including 28 Brits and 88 Australians, and injured hundreds more.
Mr de Haart told ABC on the ten year anniversary: “On the right Paddy’s bar was well alight and a girl came past and her arm was just hanging by a scrap of skin.
“I looked to the left and it was utter, utter chaos.
“I raced up to the front of the Sari Club and it was just a nightmare – people screaming, people on fire.
“I’m trying to find the boys – I couldn’t see any of the boys. I just started going into the Sari Club and there were bodies lying everywhere.”
AFPThe explosion in a popular nightclub in the tourist district of Kuta[/caption]
ReutersThe wreckage of the venues after the horror bombings[/caption]
ReutersA group of Australian tourists sits on the floor in front of Qantas representative office in Denpasar airport on October 13, 2002[/caption]
Mr de Haart said he quickly tried to pull survivors from the wreckage to the rushed to hospital.
He added: “I grabbed this guy on a bike and said, ‘Take him to hospital’. And this little guy looked up at me and said, ‘How am I going to hold him up and ride my bike?’ But he did.
“The Indonesian guys kept coming along in their cars and taking people from us.
“I’ve got all scars and burns on the bottom of my legs from kicking up ashes.
“At the time you were oblivious to it; all the time you were trying to get people out.”
The attack was traced to the extreme Islamic group Jemaah Islamiyah and several perpetrators were arrested.
Ringleader Hambali – who received funds from 9/11 terrorists Al-Qaeda – had ordered a strategy of hitting soft targets, such as nightclubs and bars, rather than high-security sites like embassies.
Ali Imron, who was convicted for his part in the bombings, said they were a response to the American invasion of Afghanistan, following the 2001 Twin Tower attacks.
Bali was chosen “because it was frequented by Americans and their associates”.
Three of the bombers – Imam Samudra, Amrozi Nurhasyim and Huda bin Abdul Haq – were executed by firing squad after being sentenced to death by the Indonesian government.
Imron was given a life sentence because he showed remorse.
Hambali spent 19 years in US centre Guantanamo Bay before being charged in 2021.
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