Another Australian Tourist’s Heart Removed After Death, Kept in Bali
In a troubling development that echoes a recent case involving another Australian tourist, the brother of a man who died in Bali has revealed that his sibling’s heart was removed following his death and kept in the Balinese hospital where the autopsy was conducted.
Steve Yates, whose brother Chris Yates passed away suddenly in Bali in February 2023, shared with news.com.au that Chris’s body was returned to Australia without his heart. Chris had lived in Bali for over a decade and was described as a healthy, active individual who enjoyed surfing and practicing yoga.
Circumstances Surrounding Death
According to Steve, Chris had just finished teaching a Bikram hot yoga class—a practice done in rooms heated to 40 degrees Celsius—and complained of overheating before jumping into his pool. A close friend, Shiho, arrived shortly after Chris placed a distress call and found him floating face down in the pool with blood coming from his nose and ears. Despite attempts to revive him with CPR, Chris was pronounced dead upon the arrival of emergency services.
Reports from friends noted that Chris had appeared pale and unwell in the days preceding his death. However, the official cause of death, as determined by Dr. Nola Margaret Gunawan, who performed the forensic autopsy at the Prof. Ngoerah Hospital (formerly Sanglah General Hospital) in Bali, was a heart attack related to narrowing of the coronary arteries. Toxicology tests indicated high alcohol levels but no signs of poisoning.
Controversy Over Retained Organs
Chris’s brother Steve raised serious concerns about the retention of his brother’s heart and other organs by the Balinese authorities. Unlike cases where organs are returned with the body or used for further medical examination, Chris’s heart was withheld initially and, when finally sent back, was reportedly so chemically treated that DNA tests could not conclusively prove it belonged to him. Steve described his brother’s remains as “an empty shell” upon return.
Steve’s frustration deepened as he faced repeated obstacles while seeking information and assistance from the Indonesian and Australian authorities. Efforts to communicate with Dr. Gunawan reportedly went unanswered for a long period, although the doctor clarified that most of the emails ended up in her spam folder and were automatically deleted, except for the most recent one.
Similarities to Byron Haddow Case
This case closely mirrors that of Byron Haddow, a 23-year-old Australian FIFO worker who died in Bali earlier this year under what has been described as suspicious circumstances. Haddow’s body also arrived in Australia without his heart following an autopsy by the same coroner, Dr. Gunawan, at the same hospital. Haddow’s family only discovered the missing heart during a second autopsy in Australia and are currently waiting for DNA testing to confirm the organ’s identity.
Both men’s bodies reportedly showed signs of abrasions and bruises. Dr. Gunawan has indicated that toxicology reports for both men reflected alcohol consumption but no poisoning, and that their deaths were linked to blunt force impacts and heart complications.
Families Seek Answers
The families of Chris Yates and Byron Haddow continue to seek transparency and answers regarding the deaths and the handling of their loved ones’ bodies in Bali. The retention and delayed return of vital organs complicate efforts to fully understand the circumstances of their deaths.
Steve Yates remains deeply affected by the lack of cooperation from authorities, describing his attempts to obtain information as "like driving into a brick wall." Meanwhile, the official stance maintains that the cause of death was natural, though suspicions and unanswered questions linger.
The cases highlight ongoing concerns about medical and legal processes surrounding foreign deaths in Bali and underscore the emotional toll on families seeking closure far from home.
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