Hero saved girls' lives (From Barry And District News)

Hero saved girls' lives

A BRAVE Barry man hailed a hero after saving the lives of two of his friends in the Bali bomb blast has come home.

Twenty-five year old Jonathan Hartery was two-weeks into a six-month round-the-world trip with his girlfriend Nicola Trott, 29, and their friend Rachel Griffiths, 25.

They had been in Bali a mere two hours when a bomb ripped through the district of Kuta on Saturday, October 12.

The trio were at the Sari Club belatedly celebrating Nicola's birthday when the building was engulfed in flames.

Arriving at Heathrow Airport on Monday Rachel, a caravan park manager from Tenby told how Jonathan had kicked a hole in the collapsed night club roof to drag the girls to safety.

With fresh burns on her shoulder and back, a tearful Rachel told how they had just bought drinks and were halfway towards the back of the bar when they felt the huge blast.

She said: "There was a huge bang and we felt what we thought was a massive explosion from outside. We presumed it was from the bar opposite. The next thing all the lights went out and we were in the dark."

The building had caved in and debris was trapping Nicola.

Rachel added: "I tried to hold the roof up to get Nicola out, but I couldn't do it. We tried to get on top of the roof, but there were flames everywhere." Jonathan managed to reach the girls. He tunnelled through the thatch of the roof and led the girls to safety."

Rachel said: "It was terrible. Jon saved our lives."

Insurance worker Jonathan has not spoken much about his ordeal since returning to Barry.

But his friends' family have paid tribute to his brave actions. Rachel's father and former mayor of Tenby Denzil Griffiths said: "He's a hero. He saved their lives. What he did deserves some form of recognition."