The case of a young Australian who died while on holiday in Bali has drawn international concern after his body was repatriated to Queensland without his heart.
Byron Haddow, 23, was discovered lifeless in the plunge pool of his rented villa earlier this year. His remains were sent back to Australia four weeks later, where a second autopsy revealed the organ was missing. The discovery prompted Australian authorities to press Indonesian officials for clarification.
Prof. Ngoerah Hospital in Denpasar, where the forensic autopsy was conducted, strongly denied allegations of organ theft. “I emphasize, on behalf of Prof. Ngoerah Hospital, that the circulating rumors of organ theft are false,” said I Made Darmajaya, the hospital’s director of medical nursing and support.
Darmajaya explained that the hospital retained the heart temporarily for examination at the request of local police. “There is no interest of the hospital to withhold (the heart). Actually, our interest was in the context of examination in accordance with the law,” he told reporters. He added that additional time was needed to process the organ to meet the standards for pathological analysis before it could be returned.
The heart was finally sent back to Queensland in August, more than two months after Haddow’s death, according to Ni Luh Arie Ratna Sukasari, the family’s legal representative. She said the delay had raised “serious questions” about medical practices in Bali.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is extending consular assistance to Haddow’s family but declined to comment further, citing privacy obligations.
