The three Australians who found the body of a FIFO worker floating in the pool of his Bali villa four months ago are refusing to speak about the tragedy as Indonesian authorities wait to quiz them about the death.
The Daily Mail can reveal Bali Police have sent a letter to Australian Federal Police asking for help to summon the witnesses they want to speak to over the death of Queenslander Byron Haddow, 23, at North Kuta in May.
While authorities initially listed Mr Haddow’s cause of death as drowning, an Indonesian coroner later ruled he likely died from the combined effects of alcohol and an anti-depressant.
According to a Bali Police report obtained by the Daily Mail, local authorities do not believe his death is suspicious. However, as investigations continue, detectives are seeking to speak to the three Australians who last saw him alive.
Those individuals include Mr Haddow’s friend, Bailey Woods, 27, who was staying with him in the same suite at The Grove Bumbak Villa, and two friends from Melbourne, Kristy Pepperell, 27, and Jade Lucas, 25.
According to the report, police were not able to interview Mr Woods, Ms Pepperell, or Ms Lucas before the trio returned home to Australia.
The Daily Mail does not suggest that Mr Woods, Ms Pepperell, or Ms Lucas are in any way involved in Mr Haddow’s death, only that local authorities wish to speak to them as witnesses.
All three declined to comment on the summons or the situation when contacted by the Daily Mail on Friday.
Jade Lucas, 25, is among three Australians Bali police would like to speak to as part of the investigation
Her friend Kristy Pepperell, 27, (pictured) is also being sought for an interview
The two women reportedly visited Bailey Woods (pictured) and Byron Haddow at their villa the night before the tragedy
‘Based on the police report on May 30, 2025, police [are] yet to find any foul play from the incident,’ Bali Police Spokesperson Senior Commander Ariasandy said.
‘Further investigation is being conducted.’
The update comes after the Daily Mail on Wednesday revealed details obtained during the Bali Police investigation into Mr Haddow’s death.
The police report featured information provided by four key witnesses who were interviewed by investigators about the tragedy.
The witnesses included two employees of The Grove Bumbak Villa – manager Irvan Awaludin and supervisor Wayan Agus Ariana – as well as Mr Haddow’s Bali-based friend, Darren Cross, and forensic specialist Dr Nola Margaret Gunawan.
Mr Awaludin told police he rushed to the Australian men’s villa about 11.45am on May 26 after learning of Mr Haddow’s death.
Mr Awaludin said he called Mr Woods, who was out at the time, to ask him to return to the villa to assist with the formalities for Mr Haddow.
Mr Awaludin said Mr Woods told him he and the two women had been drinking at the villa the night before and the trio woke up that morning to discover Mr Haddow unconscious in the pool.
Byron Haddow, 23, was found dead in Bali in May
Witnesses told police Ms Lucas, Ms Pepperell, and Mr Woods discovered Mr Haddow’s body
Mr Woods reportedly told Mr Awaludin he rushed to a nearby medical facility to seek help. CCTV showed staff from the Asia Pacific Medical Clinic entering the villa moments later.
Meanwhile, Mr Ariana told police how he was called into work following the tragedy while Mr Cross explained he was liaising with Mr Haddow’s family in Australia.
Forensic specialist Dr Gunawan provided police with a report from the autopsy she conducted on Mr Haddow four days after his death.
According to her findings, Mr Haddow had bruising and abrasions consistent with blunt force trauma, but the injury was ‘not fatal in nature’.
She also found evidence he was still breathing while submerged in the water. However, she said the findings could possibly be explained by the high concentration of alcohol in his blood, which may have rendered him unable to get out of the water.
‘I conclude that the most probable cause of death is ethanol intoxication,’ she said.
‘This is supported by the presence of a large amount of ethanol in all the samples taken, coupled with the presence of duloxetine (although its concentration could not be determined), which significantly increases the likelihood of central nervous system depression as well as impaired judgment and cognition.’
Mr Haddow’s death made Australian headlines earlier this month after an autopsy bungle saw his body repatriated four weeks later without his heart, with his family forced to pay $700 for its return, which arrived too late for his funeral.
The men were staying at The Grove Bumbak Villa (pictured)
Exclusive photos show authorities at the Bali villa after the tragic discovery in May
Doctors were called to the villa after Mr Haddow was found unconscious in a pool
His grieving family are now demanding answers from Indonesian authorities about both the circumstances of his death and the autopsy error.
Mr Haddow’s heart finally returned to Australia on August 11, after his funeral had already taken place.
Malekat Hukum Law Firm, acting on behalf of the Haddow family, said the organ returned is undergoing DNA testing to confirm it definitely is the 23-year-old’s heart.
‘Our clients have not only suffered the loss of their son but have also endured violations of their rights as next-of-kin’ they said on Wednesday.
‘They are entitled to know the truth, to receive honest explanations, and to have their son treated with dignity and respect. This incident raises serious questions regarding medical practices in Bali.
‘What happened to Byron Haddow is a grave matter of law, ethics, and humanity. Our Clients will continue to pursue justice until the truth is fully uncovered.’
His death is now the subject of an open coronial investigation, but the Coroners Court of Queensland has not yet released any findings.
