"I was in the middle of this fire. I just remember hearing the big whooshing sound going past me."
The Indonesian surf trip is a coming-of-age adventure for any surfer worth her salt. Flying to the world’s largest archipelago, charting a boat to some far flung coast and living a tube-enhanced dream. No phone, no boss, no responsibility other than getting drained and draining Bintang.
A good life, maybe perfect, until the dang mechanic proceeds to hook up the battery wrong thus engulfing the entire business, including surfers, in an inferno.
But let us 19-year-old Jensen Kirby on his very first solo trip overseas. The young Perthian is lucky to be alive after a harrowing accident left him well done. Here he is, without further ado, with the play-by-play.
“The mechanic was putting the battery on and plugging it up. He plugged the negative to the positive, so it was wrong, and as soon as it clicked it just sparked and ignited the petrol fumes in the boat,” the dishwater blonde told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. “All I saw was the spark and the next moment I just saw the flames around me and I was like ‘Oh my god, what the hell do I do?’ I was in the middle of this fire. I just remember hearing the big whooshing sound going past me. It was crazy, like out of a movie. I just turned around and jumped straight into the water because I was so scared and got away as far as I could in case there was another explosion.”
Young Kirby survived, body very burned, and had multiple stages to get to a proper care facility. He was worried about looking at his face, scared the damage would be lots. When he finally mustered the courage, he felt he looked “thirty years older” which would make him 49. Exactly six years younger than surf great Kelly Slater.
If you looked in the mirror, after a scary accident, and saw Kelly Slater staring back how would that make you feel?
The effort that goes into a quality Kelly Slater punchline is commendable.
All the cool Insta kids will be fingertapping those fire emojis so hard they might all set themselves on fire with the friction.
That story was fire. Hope he’s ok
Soo they both got fired?
Both?? Probably hard to get fired when you are a paying passenger.
Ffs Barrelled… it’s called sarcasm. They both caught on fire… or “got fired”.
– Mahalo
Sorry, I’m slow on Mondays.
Great story to tell, however.
Yeah yeah just did a Indo boat trip… it was firing!
Fire indo hole!
sorry bout that
“The Indonesian surf trip is a coming-of-age adventure for any
surferVAL worth her salt.”Recently had a friend, mid level VAL do a 10 day boat trip in Indo with a few other Mid Level Vals.
Friend said it was a trip of a lifetime, but was in over their head on many occasion.
Said the Australian Guide gave them strict instructions on where to sit, where not to sit and which waves to catch. Friend came back mildly scathed, and said that they were the only one of their group that surfed many of the days while the others stayed on the boat in fear.
…….but at least they can say they did the required Indo boat trip.
Every tiger has to earn their stipes.
Sounds like the real winner was the Australian surf coach/guide who gets paid to be in Indo to tell Vals where to go and he how not to get hurt while there. If it weren’t for Vals, he’d have to get an actual job.
blows my mind why VAL’s head to the Ments without actually having enough self-awareness to know they’re not at that level yet. Funnily though it’s often these types that have the most money too.
If only they had highlights, they’d look like surfers.
no tats
Hire semi qualified oafs in ungodly places to do the most rudimentary tasks then expect unwanted outcomes.
Gnarl! That extra $3k keeps you safer…
Are you sure that’s a 39 yr old bloke ?
Cos if ya squint/blur ya eyes a bit (even if ya don’t), it actually looks like surfings favourite bogan Sally Fitzgibbons.
And going by the burn marks, she was wearing a ‘low cut thin strap top’ and had stayed out in the sun too long…
so cunty of you Chas, ffs get a grip, these are your fellow humans
👎
Glad to see the young Oz boi is ok. BUT did he lose tbe accent and sound more like an American after the fire?
Kelly Slater is undeniably handsome even very near 60 years old. I would be thrilled to stare in a mirror and see that visage peering back.
Don’t sell yourself short Chas! You have superior prose, prettier hair(for that matter hair) and kids with names.
You’re untouchable!
hahaha, sounds like a Nick Cage movie
still… you need to be a little better, really
He’s 56
…for now.