DNA Tests Underway to Confirm Heart Belonging to Australian Man Who Died in Bali
Authorities and the family of Byron Haddow, a 23-year-old Australian from Queensland who passed away while on holiday in Bali, are seeking answers after his body was returned to Australia without his heart. The family’s legal team has initiated DNA testing to verify whether a heart sent separately to Queensland actually belongs to Haddow.
Byron Haddow tragically died in May when he was found in the plunge pool of his Bali villa. Following his death, Haddow’s body was repatriated to Australia four weeks later, but a subsequent autopsy revealed that his heart was missing. This discovery raised serious concerns and prompted an investigation into the handling of his remains.
Ni Luh Arie Ratna Sukasari, the family’s legal representative in Bali, explained that DNA testing is now underway to determine if the heart returned to Australia is indeed Haddow’s. She emphasized the family’s demand for certainty, transparency, and dignity in how their son’s remains have been treated.
The situation has also sparked controversy regarding the hospital that performed Haddow’s autopsy. Prof Ngoerah Hospital in Bali, where the forensic autopsy was conducted at the request of local police, has strongly denied any involvement in organ theft. I Made Darmajaya, the hospital’s director of medical nursing and support, stated that the hospital’s role was strictly forensic and in compliance with legal procedures.
According to Darmajaya, the delay in returning Haddow’s heart was due to the lengthy process required for pathological examination standards. He assured the public that rumors of organ theft were unfounded and reaffirmed the hospital’s commitment to lawful medical practices.
However, the family’s legal representative disputes parts of this account, noting that a further autopsy on the heart was carried out in Bali without the family’s knowledge or consent. Moreover, she revealed the family was unexpectedly asked to pay an additional A$700 for the repatriation of the heart. These facts have heightened the family’s distress and fueled their call for an independent police investigation.
The Haddow family, represented by Ni Luh Arie Ratna Sukasari, continues to demand clear explanations from Prof Ngoerah Hospital regarding the removal, retention, and subsequent handling of Byron’s heart. The family describes the entire ordeal as inhumane, with Byron’s parents, Robert and Chantal Haddow, profoundly devastated not only by their son’s death but by the treatment of his body afterwards.
Chantal Haddow has spoken out about her grief and confusion, expressing that she has many unanswered questions but is currently unable to provide detailed comments.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed it is providing consular assistance to Byron’s family but has refrained from making additional comments due to privacy considerations.
This troubling case has raised serious concerns about medical and legal procedures related to autopsies and the handling of human remains in Bali. The Haddow family remains resolute in their pursuit of justice and full disclosure regarding the circumstances surrounding Byron Haddow’s death and the treatment of his body.
DNA testing results are awaited with the hope that they will bring clarity and peace to the family as investigations continue.
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