Bali: Cape man 'serious'

2002-10-14 08:44

Thinus Ferreira

Cape Town - The distressed parents and sister of Morné Viljoen (24), who is fighting for his life after a bomb explosion in Bali, were anxiously waiting for news of his condition on Sunday.

Viljoen was admitted to the intensive-care unit of the Denpasar Hospital in Bali.

He had serious second-degree burns over 40% of his body, including his back and legs as well as cuts to his head.

Deon and Maureen Viljoen of Brackenfell heard on Sunday morning their son had been among hundreds of victims of the Bali massacre when one of Morné's friends managed to phone his father from Bali amid the chaos.

Viljoen's mother told Die Burger: "Gerhard, one of Morné's friends who is teaching English with him in Taipei, called his father, who immediately phoned us.

"He said Morné had been admitted to hospital. They had been on a rugby tour to Bali at the long weekend. Gerhard, who also had burn wounds appears to have been discharged."

Viljoen, who has an honours degree in industrial psychology from the University of Stellenbosch, left for Taiwan in February to teach English.

Mrs Viljoen said: "We heard of the explosion on Sunday morning. My husband immediately said we should phone Morné to find out where he was. We had a premonition something was wrong. Gerhard's dad phoned us soon afterwards."

By late on Sunday night two more South Africans were still missing after the blast. Foreign affairs spokesperson Ronny Mamoepa said their names would be released as soon as their families had been told.

- Die Burger