Real Life

Jimmy Barnes and his family’s lucky escape from the Bangkok Bomb Blast

Jimmy Barnes and his loved ones have narrowly missed the fatal bomb blast in Bangkok, which struck Thailand's capital city on Monday evening.
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The Aussie musician and his wife Jane were enjoying a holiday in the Hua Hin district and were going to spend a few more days in the capital before the deadly event occurred.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that that Jimmy, his Thai-Australian wife, daughter Elly-May, son-in-law Liam, grandson Dylan, and Australian journalist Alan Parkhouse met at their hotel before deciding to grab a bite to eat.

The group’s last minute decision to take a different route for dinner ultimately saved their lives.

“Jimmy, Jane and I tossed up whether to walk on the footpath past the popular religious shrine on the corner, which was always crowded with worshippers and tourists, and then across the road,” Alan shared.

Jane and Jimmy Barnes shared snaps from the devastating wreckage.

“Our other option was to take the overhead bridge that linked their hotel to Bangkok’s Skytrain. There was another overhead walkway from the Skytrain through a shopping centre and into the Intercontinental Hotel. We opted for the overhead route – a decision that probably saved our lives.”

Jimmy, along with his friends and loved ones, were crossing the bridge when they heard a loud explosion as a result of the horrific attacks.

“A bomb or something has exploded in Bangkok, very close to us! #explosioninBangkok” Jane tweeted.

“We had just walked right above the spot where the bomb had gone off and were about 50 metres away when the blast shook the walkway and the glass almost shattered. It was a really loud explosion and Jimmy, Jane and I knew it wasn’t thunder, a car backfiring or fireworks,” Alan recalled.

The aftermath was heartbreaking with Jane tweeting: “Bombs diffused. Bodies still covered on road, terrible, so sad.”

So far, at least 19 people have been killed by the blast which exploded in the Ratchaprasong district. It has been reported that a bomb was attached to a motorcycle that was intended to target foreigners in the Thai capital.

For anyone trying to track down family members, please call the Australian DFAT hotline: 1300 555 135. Or the international number is: (61) 2 6261 3305

Jimmy was in Thailand on holiday with his wife and family.

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