DNA Testing Underway to Confirm if Heart Belongs to Australian Man Who Died in Bali
Authorities are conducting DNA tests to verify whether a heart claimed to be that of Byron Haddow, a 23-year-old Australian man who died in Bali, truly belongs to him. Haddow was found dead in the plunge pool of his villa during a holiday in Bali in May 2025. When his body was returned to Australia four weeks after his death, a second autopsy revealed that his heart was missing.
The family’s legal representative in Bali, Ni Luh Arie Ratna Sukasari, indicated that there is uncertainty surrounding the authenticity of the heart which was eventually returned to the family two months after Haddow’s death. The heart is currently undergoing DNA testing in Queensland to confirm its identity. “The family insists on certainty, full transparency, and dignity for their son,” Sukasari said.
Indonesian officials have been pressed to explain the circumstances following the discovery of the missing heart. The hospital in Bali that conducted the original autopsy, Prof Ngoerah hospital, has strongly denied any involvement in organ theft. I Made Darmajaya, director of medical nursing and support at Prof Ngoerah hospital, explained that the hospital performed the forensic autopsy at the request of local police. He stressed, “The circulating rumours of organ theft are false,” asserting that the hospital had no motive to withhold the heart. According to him, the delay in returning the heart was due to the time needed to prepare it for pathological examination in accordance with legal requirements.
However, Sukasari raised further concerns about the handling of Haddow’s heart. She said that an additional autopsy was conducted on the heart in Bali without the family’s knowledge or consent, and that the hospital did not provide a proper explanation for this procedure. She also revealed that the family was asked to pay an additional A$700 for the repatriation of the heart.
The Haddow family is calling for an independent police investigation into Byron’s death and has demanded a full explanation from Prof Ngoerah hospital regarding the removal and retention of the heart without their consent. Sukasari shared that Byron’s parents, Robert and Chantal Haddow, are “devastated—not only by the loss of their son but also by the way his body and organs were handled.” She added that the treatment of Byron after his death has deepened the family’s grief, yet they remain committed to uncovering the full truth.
Byron’s mother, Chantal Haddow, told Guardian Australia that she has “so many questions” but was unable to provide further comment at this time. Meanwhile, Australia’s foreign ministry stated it is offering consular assistance to the family but declined further comment due to privacy considerations.
The heart was returned to Queensland in August 2025, and the incident has sparked serious questions about medical and legal procedures related to autopsies and the treatment of bodies in Bali. The case continues to evoke strong reactions, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability in such sensitive matters.
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