Christian journalist Evan Batten began his Sunday wondering what the morning would bring; by the evening the Network Ten reporter was standing in a Balinese airport hearing the harrowing tales of tourists caught up in the latest bombing.
"It was bizarre being in Bali so soon after such a huge event," Mr Batten says.
"It was a surreal experience realising that here were 200 Australians who had just been through one of the most traumatic terrorist events."
Mr Batten and cameraman Ray Jones were one of the first Australian news teams on the ground after the suicide bombings in restaurants at Kuta and Jimbaran beaches.
Authorities have revised the death toll to 22, including three suspected suicide bombers.
More than a hundred tourists and Balinese were wounded, with critical cases evacuated to Darwin and Singapore.
The Ten news crew hitched a ride on a Qantas 767 despatched to retrieve Australians terrorised by the bombings.
They arrived at 11.30pm on Sunday evening at Denpasar Airport to be greeted by outpourings of grief, anger and confusion.
"I was aware that our days had been very different when I met the passengers," Mr Batten says.
"It was about giving people opportunities," he explains, as he describes the reactions to the attacks.
"There were a lot of people who really wanted to speak, and since they’d been through such a horrific event, it was about giving them freedom to share.
"Many of them wept openly, and I’m sure they’re going to have a very difficult time over the next few weeks."
A seasoned television reporter, Mr Batten is used to talking to people during moments of personal tragedy.
But on the flight over he asked himself how a Christian would best handle their pain, while still performing his duty.
"I thought my interest was always in the people and it wasn’t just about getting the answers and getting a story together," he says.
"People are more than just story material. These were people who needed love and support even in the way they were interviewed."
Mr Batten's wife, Nicky, says she was obviously anxious about his sudden departure, but confident her husband's Christian sensitivity would serve victims well.
"I prayed for him alone, I prayed for him with friends and I prayed for him while we were at church and while I was at home," she says.
"I think I was praying almost every moment he was away."
The touch-down of the mercy flight on Australian soil early yesterday morning brought home to Mr Batten the spiritual side of this tragedy.
"I was reminded that our God is a relational God and seeing relationships broken up is a terrible thing.
"I was looking around and seeing such a sense of relief on their faces when the plane touched down at Mascot, their families meeting them at the gates, bursting into tears, hugging - not short hugs but deep, long embraces.
"It was a privilege to see people coming together."
PHOTO: AAP
