An Australian couple who survived a horrific helicopter crash while on holiday in Bali have taken legal action against the operator.
Russell Harris and his Indonesian wife Eloira Decti Paskillah were among five passengers on board the helicopter that crashed near Pecatu on the southern coast of the Indonesian island on July 19.
The Bell Jet Model 5055 collided with a kite string, which became entangled around the helicopter’s main rotor, just three minutes into the flight.
The plane crashed 250 metres into a mixed residential area near the ocean before the couple, the pilot and his two friends were rushed to hospital.
The sightseeing flight was booked to celebrate Mr Harris’s 46th birthday.
The Perth couple appeared before the media on Monday to announce that they are seeking compensation from the operator PT. Indo Aviasi Perkasa.
A month after the near-tragedy, Mr Harris still relies on crutches to get around, while his wife wears a neck brace.
“We’re not happy with the position we’ve been put in,” Harris told reporters.
Australian couple Russell Harris and Eloira Decti Paskillah (pictured) have announced they will take legal action against the company responsible for the helicopter crash from which they miraculously survived.
“We’re playing for a helicopter tour, not a helicopter crash.”
Their Indonesian lawyer, Togar Situmorang, said the couple had asked the operator to pay for accommodation closer to the hospital where ongoing treatment was being provided and to replace their lost mobile phones.
Mr Harris said the helicopter operator has so far only paid his medical bills.
The couple was left without money to continue their recovery in Bali.
“We’ve been told we need a minimum of three months for our bodies to try to heal,” Harris told reporters.
“If this is not successful, we will both need surgery.”
He also said the company had capped the amount they would pay for the couple at Rs 200 million, which is roughly equivalent to A$20,000.
“We believe there should be no limits, we are not happy,” Harris said.
“There are probably five or six things they’ve said yes to (compensation), but we haven’t seen any other than medical treatment.”
Mr Harris and his wife have asked the helicopter operator to pay their medical bills and accommodation after being told they need three months of continuous care in Bali.
Ms Paskillah, who burst into tears during the press conference, was left traumatised by the “very scary” experience.
“I am really unhappy with this situation… I never asked for this and (the operator) will never apologize in front of us,” she said.
Mr Harris said the company was initially “doing the right thing” after the accident but had since turned its back on them.
“It feels like they’ve pulled back the curtain, making things difficult when they don’t need to be,” he said.
‘I feel like we need to get somewhere with the company.
The couple were two of five passengers on the helicopter which plunged some 250 metres (pictured) after becoming entangled in a kite string just three minutes into the flight.
‘That’s why we had to hire a lawyer and his team to represent us.
“More should be done and much faster.”
Mr Harris said he and the other passengers were lucky to have survived the crash and called on authorities to introduce safer rules.
“What does it take? Someone dying for these rules and regulations to change? It’s not right,” he said.
The couple’s legal team also sent correspondence to the Minister of Transport, Bali police and other officials.
His friend and fellow Australian Chris Marrot-Castellat was also on board, along with his partner Kayla.