Peter Hughes
Bali Bombings Survivor & Inspirational Speaker
Peter Hughes' survival of the 2002 Bali bombings made him a symbol of courage and resilience for Australians. After spending a month in a coma and being revived three times, Peter emerged with a powerful message of hope, gratitude and mateship. He delivers moving, uplifting presentations that inspire audiences to overcome adversity and reframe what is possible.
Quick Contact
Peter Hughes became known to Australians as the severely injured man whose swollen and blistered face appeared on television screens around the country during the first hours of coverage following the 2002 Bali bombings.
In the midst of unimaginable devastation, Peter quietly told rescuers he was okay and urged them to help those worse off than him. In the weeks that followed, he slipped into a month-long coma, died three times, and was repeatedly revived by medical teams determined to save his life.
What followed was an extraordinary journey of recovery, resilience, and purpose.
More than two decades later, Peter continues to share the lessons he learned from surviving one of Australia’s darkest moments. While the Bali bombings changed his life forever, they also reinforced his belief in the strength of the Australian spirit, the importance of community, and the power of hope.
Beyond his experience as a survivor, Peter built a successful career in the construction and roofing industries, operating businesses for more than 30 years. His experiences in business, leadership, adversity, and personal recovery allow him to connect with audiences from all walks of life.
Peter’s presentations are honest, emotional, humorous, and deeply inspiring. He speaks about courage, mateship, resilience, gratitude, mental strength, and the people who carried him through his darkest days—family, friends, medical professionals, and complete strangers whose kindness helped shape his recovery.
As the author of Back From the Dead and currently working on a new book exploring survival, recovery, and the lessons learned from tragedy, Peter continues to inspire audiences across Australia.
Whether speaking to corporations, sporting clubs, schools, community groups, emergency services personnel, or industry conferences, Peter delivers a powerful message: no matter how difficult the circumstances, hope, resilience, and human connection can carry us further than we ever imagine.
Topics
- Resilience and overcoming adversity
- Leadership during crisis
- Mental strength and recovery
- The power of community and mateship
- Lessons from survival and trauma
- Business, leadership, and life after adversity
- Finding purpose after life’s defining moments
