Tragic reason dance teacher was in Bali before devastating accident

• Becci Ode has severe eye, face and brain injuries from Bali crash
• Mystery over whether her scooter hit parked motorbike
• Dance teacher had found happiness again after father’s suicide

EXCLUSIVE

The Australian dance teacher who suffered catastrophic brain and facial injuries is being airlifted home from Bali as doctors fight to save her sight.

Rebecca ‘Becci’ Ode, 36 – who suffered horrific injuries in the mystery accident on the night she was meant to celebrate her birthday – had gone to Bali to recover from the mental trauma of her father’s suicide.

Kevin Ode died suddenly on April 30 in 2022 aged 60, devastating his close family including his daughters Rebecca and her sister Jordyn.

Relatives said Ms Ode had recently been ‘at her happiest’ after a six-month break on the Indonesian holiday isle.

But she was then found semi-conscious on a road near Jungut Batu Beach on the island of Nusa Lembongan, southeast of Bali, at about 1am last Tuesday.

She was flown to hospital in Denpasar where she underwent 14 hours of brain, eye and reconstructive surgery for a shattered eye socket, broken collarbone and brain haemorrhage. Medics fear she could still lose one of her eyes.

Dr Bagus Mahadewa of Ngoerah General Hospital warned that Ms Ode needed to be urgently transported to Australia by air ambulance as cerebral fluid may still be trapped inside her skull.

Daily Mail Australia understands that Ms Ode’s medical evacuation back to Australia is now underway after her family raised $206,000 in a GoFundMe appeal. 

An air ambulance flight could have Ms Ode back to Australia in three to four hours. 

Ms Ode’s brother-in-law Jesse Wilton, who works with her sister Jordyn in real estate in Newcastle, said her medical bill was $60,000 in the first few days alone. 

‘We have no idea how it happened… there was no alcohol… and the extent of her injuries is quite traumatic,’ Mr Wilton said.

Dr Mahedawa told Daily Mail Australia his team had operated on Ms Ode’s injuries for 10 hours.

‘It looked like a serious accident with a heavy impact,’ he added. 

‘She may have hit a wall, road, pedestrian [or a vehicle] very hard – but no-one knows.’

Bali police told Daily Mail Australia on Friday that Ms Ode had been riding on a Yamaha scooter and lost control when she then collided with a parked motorcycle.

The report stated that it was a clear night with a dark sky when the incident occurred. There was almost no traffic on the road.

While she was now able to speak post-surgery, Dr Mahadewa said Ms Ode was unable to remember what had happened. 

He first words to medical staff when she woke up were: ‘What happened to me?’ 

Mr Wilton has said it was the family’s main aim to bring Ms Ode home as soon as possible.

‘We know Bec will continue fighting her best fight with her strong will and determination,’ he added.

Ms Ode has been left with structural damage to her face that will leave her disfigured for the rest of her life.

Her mother Shari and sister Jordyn have flown to Bali to be by her side, and were traumatised by the extent of Ms Ode’s injuries.  

‘The impact completely pushed her eye out of her head, and the damage was so severe they weren’t sure they could save the eye at all,’ Jordyn said on Facebook.

‘Her nose was split in half, and the cartilage was shattered. They had to rebuild her face, and I am desperate to get her home for professional help.

‘The orthopaedic surgeons repaired her collarbone and shoulder, which were also hit. She now has a metal plate to keep her clavicle together.’

Jordyn and Becci Ode are well-known and respected dancers in the Newcastle area. Becci had also worked more recently at SeaWorld. 

With ambulance transfers, a flight to Sydney and then transport to Newcastle, it is expected to cost more than $250,000 to get Ms Ode home.

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