A 12-year-old boy who ran away to Bali has told how he bought himself his first beer on the beach, saying: ‘I had a sip and it was disgusting.’
The boy named Drew left his Sydney home after a heated argument with his mother in early March.
He pretended he was going to school but took her credit card and got on a Jetstar flight to Denpasar via Perth.
A 12-year-old boy by the name of Drew (pictured at the airport) managed to run away to Denpasar, Bali after having a heated argument with his mum
Drew bought himself his first beer on the beach, saying: ‘I had a sip and it was disgusting.’ Pictured: Sanur beach in Denpasar, Bali
While his frantic mother and police searched for him in Sydney, Drew was enjoying four days in the tourist town’s three-star All Seasons Hotel, where he had stayed with his parents before.
He lounged by the pool, rented a motorbike and even treated himself to his first beer on the beach.
Speaking to radio hosts Ryan Fitzgerald and Michael Wipfli on their ‘Fitzy and Wippa’ Nova show on Tuesday, he said he had no problem buying the beer despite his age.
‘I only had a sip out of it and it was disgusting – but it was just the fact that I could get it,’ he said.
The youngster explained that his mother cancelled her credit card when she found out he was missing – but he was able to fund his trip by taking out cardless cash which he had wired to his bank account.
He flew to Denpasar via Perth – where airport personnel asked for his passport and student ID, to confirm that he was in secondary school, before allowing him to board
The boy spent four days in Denpasar. He rented a motorcycle, lounging on the beach and, at one point, buying himself a beer (stock image of Denpasar)
Drew said the hotel let him check in after he convinced staff his sister was coming to join him soon.
His distraught mother is furious with police who she said told her ‘there’s no way he can get out of the country’.
She said her parenting skills have been criticised after the news broke but that really the fault lies with authorities who failed to stop a 12-year-old leaving the country alone.
Drew first booked a flight with Qantas but was not allowed to board without proof of parental permission.
‘I went to the airport, and the crew wouldn’t let me on… cause I didn’t have documents from mum or dad,’ he told A Current Affair.
It was only once Drew went to Jetstar that he managed to book his international ticket and make it through the airport unchecked.
This despite the Australian Federal Police’s assurances that he was on their radar and wouldn’t be allowed to leave.
After being stopped with two other airlines, Drew eventually found success when he booked his international flight through Jetstar
‘When the first attempt to Indonesia took place, we were told his passport was going to be flagged,’ said his mother, Emma, while his nan was being assured that ‘It just wouldn’t happen: he wouldn’t get past any of the airport personnel to get overseas.’
The discount flights took Drew to Perth first, where he then transferred into the international departures lounge and was indeed checked by airport personnel.
‘They just asked for my student ID and passport,’ he said. ‘To prove that I’m in a secondary school.’
And with that, Drew found himself on a flight to Denpasar.
Upon arriving in Denpasar, Drew booked himself into the All Seasons Hotel, where he had stayed with his family on previous vacations
Drew ignored the numerous texts and calls from his worried parents back home.
It was when he posted a video of himself backflipping into the hotel pool that the jig was well and truly up.
His mum discovered his location after calling his friends and instantly informed the AFP, who got in touch with the local chief police commissioner.
‘I just went to the beach and then by the time I got back the consulate was there’ said Drew.
‘[So] I said I was going to go get my stuff from the room and then I locked myself in the room.’
Police were forced to unscrew the windows of the hotel to finally catch the elusive teen – and his parents were instructed to sit tight while their son was brought home to them.
His mother (pictured) eventually discovered Drew’s location and contacted the authorities to have him retrieved
But Drew hadn’t broken any Indonesian laws, and no one had the right to arrest him or escort him to the airport for deportation.
‘The AFP said we only had 24 hours otherwise they’ll let him go, cause legally in Indonesian law he has done nothing wrong,’ said Emma.
‘We were a mess – you’ve got a child who’s in Indonesia by himself, who’s as savvy as him riding motorbikes, organising his own little life over there.’
When the consulate arrived at Drew’s hotel he locked himself in his room – forcing them to unscrew the windows and get him
Emma and Drew’s father rushed to Indonesia to retrieve him, also flying to Bali via Perth – where they were stonewalled by airport personnel for not having a return ticket.
‘That’s when my former partner said: ‘Well how did my 12-year-old son get on a flight without being questioned, and you’re questioning us as adults?” said Emma.
They eventually managed to board their flight, making it to Denpasar and retrieving their rogue child.
But Drew’s parents are furious that their son was able to make it overseas so easily in the first place.
‘He was never flagged – they never done their job. If they’d done their job this wouldn’t have happened,’ said his mother.
‘So easily fooling Australian police, customs, everyone. What about those other kids that have gone underage? What about child trafficking?
‘We still are in shock, we sit here just thinking how did this happen considering we screamed, we begged for help.’
Drew’s parents flew to Bali to collect him – but they are furious that it got to that stage without anybody having stopped their young son