A routine night at a Balinese villa turned into a harrowing ordeal for Joe (who wishes to be identified only by his first name), a 39-year-old yoga instructor from Victoria, Australia, after an intruder wielding a large knife stormed into his room in the early hours of October 17.
Joe, who divides his time between Australia and Canggu, Bali, was left with multiple injuries after a five-minute struggle with the assailant that ended only when the masked attacker fled with Joe’s belongings.
The Chronology Retold: “It Was Pretty Wild”
The incident unfolded around 2 a.m. while Joe and his girlfriend were asleep in the villa they had rented for several months, according to Joe’s account for Australian news sources,
The intruder managed to slip into their bedroom, immediately jolting Joe awake.
“It was pretty wild,” he said. Acting on instinct, Joe leaped from the bed and charged at the man without realizing he was armed. A desperate tussle ensued, with Joe attempting to grab the knife to defend himself.
In the darkness, the two wrestled violently, slamming against walls and falling to the ground as Joe fought to disarm the attacker.
The assailant, whom Joe recalls yelling “punya temen” (Indonesian for “I have friends”), managed to overpower him briefly, leaving Joe concerned that the robber’s accomplices might burst through the door at any moment.
Meanwhile, his girlfriend frantically tried to contact the police, who did not pick up, according to Joe.
After a brutal five minutes, Joe finally wrested the knife from the intruder and tossed it under the bed. But the attacker wasn’t finished: grabbing a glass picture frame, he smashed it over Joe’s head before bolting out of the villa, his retreat captured on CCTV as he slipped while attempting to escape with Joe’s backpack containing a laptop, two phones, cash, and other valuables.
In the aftermath, Joe was left with severe injuries, including a broken arm and multiple lacerations on his hand.
Failing to reach authorities for help, he wrapped his wounds in towels, grabbed a pot for protection, and ran to a nearby mini-mart for assistance. A local eventually took him and his girlfriend to the hospital on his motorbike.
Recovery and Aftermath
Following initial treatment at Siloam Hospital, Joe flew to Perth, Australia, where he underwent four surgeries to repair tendons and nerve damage in his hand. He faces three more months of physical therapy to regain function.
With mounting medical bills, emergency expenses, and the loss of valuables, Joe launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the financial burden.
“It’s a little embarrassing,” he wrote on the page, “but all the stolen items, medical bills, emergency documents, and last-minute flights have amounted to over 20,000 AUD.”
Despite the trauma, Joe remains grateful, concluding, “If you can help in any way, I’ll be forever grateful; if you cannot, that’s also alright. I’m just happy to be alive.
