WA Family Trapped in Bali After Party Balloons Spark Restaurant Blaze
A West Australian family from Mt Barker has been trapped in Bali after the party balloons they purchased for a 70th birthday celebration exploded and set the Chez Gado Gado restaurant on fire.
The Incident:
Caitlin Speedy said she bought the party balloons for her mum's 70th birthday celebration. She had assumed they contained helium and was shocked when they burst into flames.
"I have no idea how they exploded, it just went up," she said.
"I was horrified. I felt like they had literally sold me a ticking time bomb."
Aftermath:
While her 17-year-old son is now out of hospital, Indonesian authorities have stopped the family from flying home, seizing their passports. Ms Speedy said being trapped on the island made the family feel like criminals.
"We're only pulled in as witnesses, and yet we're still being treated differently," she said.
Venue Policy Change:
Villa Mataraz Bali posted on social media: "Balloons may be filled with hydrogen, a cheaper alternative to helium. Hydrogen is highly flammable."
