Australian bodybuilder nearly dies after routine surgery in Bali; saved by O‑negative donors

An Australian bodybuilder was saved by the donations of strangers after he lost three litres of blood and nearly died following a routine digestive operation in Bali, his family and local media said.

Jackson Peos, 30, a gym owner from Perth who had moved to the Indonesian holiday island, underwent the procedure in June. He initially appeared to be recovering but, within days, began coughing up blood and suffering severe pain. He was taken to Bali International Hospital, where doctors found internal bleeding and severe thrombosis — a condition in which blood clots block veins or arteries — and reported that several organs had begun to fail.

Hospital staff said a lifesaving transfusion was in doubt because supplies of Peos’ blood type, O-negative, had been depleted. Loved ones launched an urgent appeal for donors. In under five hours, enough O-negative blood was collected to replace the three litres he had lost, and 28 donors had come forward by the end of the emergency, according to family statements and local reports.

Peos told Australian media that one doctor had warned him to prepare for his final goodbyes. He said he was ‘‘so grateful for the generosity of the Australian people’’ who answered the call for blood.

Peos has since undergone five additional operations to address complications arising from the initial procedure. Australian doctors who have reviewed his case told media that the first surgery had been botched and that, even with corrective operations, he will require ongoing monitoring for potential lasting health complications. The Balinese hospital has disputed suggestions of negligence, saying Peos received prompt, professional treatment and attributing the shortage of blood to the Indonesian Red Cross.

In social media posts and interviews, Peos described continuing physical and emotional challenges. He said a drain from a wound passes through his anal passage and that he must wear a fanny pack to manage medical equipment. ‘‘Lots of bad things have happened to me lately and sometimes I get angry,’’ he wrote, adding that he had lost his ability to live freely and his ‘‘manhood.’’ He said surgeons had told him he may not be able to undergo his next planned procedure for months.

The episode highlights the risks that can follow complications from routine surgery and the reliance of some hospitals on external blood supplies. Medical professionals advising on the case emphasized the importance of rapid transfusion access and follow-up care after major bleeding and thrombotic events, saying such complications can lead to multi-organ dysfunction if not promptly treated.

Peos said he is thankful to be alive and acknowledged the role of the donors who rushed to help. The Balinese hospital and the Indonesian Red Cross did not immediately respond to requests for further comment on the case and the circumstances that led to the low blood stock during the emergency.

Peos remains under medical supervision and is awaiting further operations and ongoing assessment of his recovery by treating clinicians in Bali and advisers in Australia.