Another Australian Tourist’s Heart Removed Following Sudden Death in Bali Sparks Family Outrage
The family of Chris Yates, an Australian who died suddenly in Bali in 2023, has spoken out about the distressing experience of having his body repatriated without his heart—and other vital organs. This revelation follows a similar incident involving Byron Haddow, a 23-year-old FIFO worker whose death in Bali earlier this year also resulted in his body being returned to Australia missing his heart.
Incident Details and Family Reactions
Chris Yates, 52, who had lived in Bali for 13 years, died unexpectedly at his home in February 2023. According to his brother Steve, Chris taught Bikram hot yoga just before returning home, where he experienced overheating and subsequently was found floating face down in his pool with blood coming from his nose and ears. “My brother came back [to Australia] without his heart, liver, kidney, stomach… he came back an empty shell,” Steve Yates told news.com.au. He described Chris as a surfing enthusiast who lived a healthy lifestyle and was rarely ill.
Similarly, Byron Haddow was found lifeless in a plunge pool at a private villa in Bali on May 26, 2025. Authorities initially attributed his death to drowning, but a coroner’s report later cited the effects of alcohol combined with an antidepressant as likely causes. Four weeks after his death, the Haddow family faced distress upon discovering that Byron’s body had been repatriated without his heart. They had to pay $700 to ensure the safe return of the organ.
Medical and Forensic Insights
Both autopsies were conducted by Dr. Nola Margaret Gunawan from Prof. Ngoerah Hospital in Bali. Dr. Gunawan identified blunt force trauma as the cause of death in both cases and noted high levels of ethanol (alcohol) in toxicology reports. Despite the bleeding from noses and mouths observed in both men, she clarified that such discharge is often a sign of asphyxia rather than a direct injury to those areas. She confirmed that Chris Yates died from a heart attack linked to the narrowing of his coronary arteries—possibly due to lifestyle factors like smoking or poor diet.
However, Chris Yates’ family has challenged the findings, citing that a second autopsy in Australia could not verify the initial results. They have also raised concerns about the preservation and handling of Chris’s heart and other organs, which were kept in Bali and returned only weeks later. Upon return, the heart allegedly lacked sufficient genetic material for conclusive identification. Attempts by Chris’s family to communicate with Dr. Gunawan went unanswered, as she stated some emails were directed to her spam folder and that one contained threatening language. She also reassured that the autopsy procedures were conducted according to law and hospital protocols, including the retention of organs only when necessary and accompanied by documentation.
Official Responses and Procedural Updates
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it has provided consular assistance to the families involved. It is understood that senior Australian officials have raised formal concerns with the Indonesian government and with Prof. Ngoerah Hospital concerning autopsy practices and communication lapses. In response, Prof. Ngoerah Hospital reportedly reviewed and updated its standard operating procedures. The new guidelines require written notification to the deceased’s family or their representatives if any organs need to be retained for further examination.
Current Status and Ongoing Investigations
The families continue to await detailed reports and have called for greater transparency regarding the circumstances of their loved ones’ deaths. Byron Haddow’s family is still waiting for the final autopsy findings, while Chris Yates’s relatives grapple with unanswered questions and ongoing distress from the handling of his remains. The similarities in their cases—including sudden deaths in swimming pools, removal of organs during autopsies, and bruising observed on the bodies—have prompted calls for stricter oversight and improved international cooperation in such incidents.
As tourism returns robustly to Bali, these recent troubling cases highlight the complexities involved when foreign nationals pass away overseas and underscore the importance of clear communication and thorough medical and legal protocols for the repatriation of remains.
Add a comment