Another Australian Tourist’s Heart Removed Post-Mortem in Bali and Kept Overseas, Family Speaks Out
In a distressing development for Australian families with loved ones who have died abroad, news.com.au has revealed that another Australian man who passed away in Bali had his heart removed during an autopsy and retained in Indonesia, echoing a previous high-profile case.
Similar Circumstances to Previous Incident
Chris Yates, a 52-year-old yoga instructor and graphic designer who had lived in Bali for 13 years, died suddenly at his home in February 2023. His brother, Steve Yates, spoke exclusively to news.com.au, sharing details of the tragic event and the aftermath that has left his family searching for answers.
Chris was found floating face down in his villa’s swimming pool with blood coming from his nose and ears. This discovery was made by a friend, who immediately began CPR, but despite the efforts, Chris was declared dead upon ambulance arrival. These circumstances bear a close resemblance to the case of Byron Haddow, a Noosa FIFO mining worker who died under suspicious circumstances in Bali earlier this year and whose body also returned to Australia without his heart.
The Removal and Retention of the Heart
Following Balinese law, Chris Yates underwent an autopsy at the same hospital where Mr. Haddow’s autopsy was performed, and the same coroner, Dr. Nola Margaret Gunawan, conducted the examination. Notably, Chris’s heart and several other organs, including his liver and kidneys, were removed and retained in Indonesia.
Months later, a heart was returned to the Yates family, but forensic analysis in Australia found it contained excessive chemicals, degrading any genetic material and making it impossible to conclusively match the organ to Chris. Additionally, the heart was reportedly too young to belong to him.
Steve Yates described receiving his brother’s remains as returning “an empty shell” and expressed his frustration at the lack of transparency and cooperation from both Indonesian authorities and Australian government bodies.
Conflicting Medical Findings
Dr. Gunawan has defended the findings from the Indonesian autopsy, citing cause of death as a heart attack due to narrowing arteries, potentially linked to lifestyle factors such as smoking or poor diet. Toxicology reports indicated high alcohol levels but showed no signs of poisoning.
However, Steve Yates remains convinced his brother was poisoned, noting bruises and lumps found on Chris’s body, as well as his sudden decline in health that morning.
Lack of Communication and Support
Steve recounted his difficulties in obtaining official police reports and information from various agencies. Despite reaching out multiple times to both Indonesian and Australian authorities, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian Federal Police, he has encountered silence and roadblocks.
According to Dr. Gunawan, many of Steve’s emails were mistakenly directed into her spam folder and automatically deleted, although she acknowledged receipt of his most recent correspondence.
Unfolding Concerns and Ongoing Pursuit for Answers
These revelations highlight ongoing concerns regarding the handling of autopsies and repatriation of remains for Australians who die overseas, particularly in Bali. The similarities between Chris Yates’s case and that of Byron Haddow have raised questions about medical procedures and transparency, leaving grieving families seeking clarity on the circumstances surrounding their loved ones’ deaths.
As the investigations continue, Steve Yates hopes that greater awareness and dialogue will lead to improved practices and justice for families affected by such tragedies abroad.
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