Aussie man's hands 'left in shreds' in horror Bali beach accident

An Aussie dad is fighting to keep his hands after they were blown to “shreds” when New Year’s Eve celebrations on a Bali beach took a disastrous turn.

Dad-of-two Nick Gilbert was ringing in 2024 on Kelan Beach when, at 3am as he was “lighting the last of the fireworks” when the final one exploded in the tube as he held it low and away from his face.

“The force was immense, shattering and splitting both my hands, one straight through,” the Adelaide man who now lives on the popular holiday island said in an online fundraiser created to help cover unexpected medical bills related to the mishap.

Nick Gilbert was celebrating the New Year on a Bali beach when his last firework exploded in his hands. Source: GoFundMe

Recalling the moment, Nick described his shock over his “unrecognisable” fingers that now had “shreds dangling” and were a “heavily bleeding mess”. Footage of the incident shows the 58-year-old kneeling at the shoreline setting fireworks off when one explodes right in his face and he falls backwards clutching his hands.

“Everything started with the fun [then] one second later the world suddenly stopped being fun,” he said, revealing “Good Samaritans” soon rushed him to the hospital.

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Dad's battle to save his hands after Bali accident

In desperate need of multiple surgeries costing an estimated $40,000 alone, Nick was stunned to be told his private health insurance policy will not cover the costs.

The 58-year-old revealed in an update on GoFundMe — which has raised more than $7,000 so far — that earlier this week doctors had been able to to repair some damage and all of his fingers are working, but more operations are necessary including possible skin grafting.

Nick said doctors had been able to repair some of the damage but more surgeries are necessary. Source: GoFundMe

“We still have a long long way to go and [the] scope is changing,” he said, claiming he’ll be out of work for at least six months.

Friend Ron Munro told The Adelaide Advertiser his mate is hoping the surgeries will help him regain 50 to 60 per cent of his hands’ former function. “He’s recouping at home and coming to [terms] with what’s happened, [but] this being the tropics, infection is a constant worry,” Ron said.

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Yahoo Australia