Jimmy Barnes Was Metres From The Devastating Bangkok Bombing

Cold Chisel frontman Jimmy Barnes narrowly escaped last night’s Bangkok bombing with his life.

The blast occurred at 7pm local time outside the Erawan Shrine in the Thai capital. At least 21 people were tragically killed in the attack and more than 120 others were injured.

Barnes was just metres from the shrine at the time of the explosion, along with his fellow holidaying family and friends.

One of those friends was journalist Alan Parkhouse, who recounted their close shave for the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Jimmy, Jane [Barnes' wife] and I tossed up whether to walk on the footpath past the popular religious shrine on the corner, which was always crowded with worshippers and tourists, and then across the road,” he said.

“Our other option was to take the overhead bridge that linked their hotel to Bangkok's Skytrain... We opted for the overhead route – a decision that probably saved our lives."

Australian authorities are collaborating with the Thai government to determine if any Aussies were injured in the chaos.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, though Thailand's junta chief has said authorities are on the hunt for a male suspect seen on CCTV footage near the scene of the crime.

If you are concerned about any holidaying family or friends in Bangkok, call the DFAT hotline. Within Australia: 1300 555 135. Outside of Australia: (61) 2 6261 3305

Picture from Jimmy Barnes’ Twitter account.