(Australia, 24th) The Australian authorities confirmed on the 23rd that they have formally raised with the Indonesian government an incident in which the heart of a 23-year-old Australian man, who died under mysterious circumstances in Bali, was missing when his body was returned to Australia. According to AFP, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs stated that consular assistance is being provided to the deceased's family.
The 23-year-old man, Byron Hadlow from Queensland, was found dead earlier this year in the swimming pool of the villa he was staying at in Bali. His mother, Chantal, tearfully told Australia's Channel 9 that only four weeks after the body had been returned, she received an official call asking whether they were aware that her son's heart had been left in Bali. "Just when I thought my heart couldn't break any more, this is another blow through the heart."
She said in anguish: "I feel like there's murder involved. I believe something happened to him before he entered the water." The family's doubts stem from numerous questionable points about the case, including the fact that Byron, who was 178cm tall, was found drowned in a pool only 150cm deep, and that his body showed several unexplained injuries.
However, Dr. Gunawan, the Indonesian forensic pathologist who carried out the initial autopsy, refuted any allegations of misconduct on the 22nd in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald. "For forensic examination purposes, his heart was retained for testing and was left behind in Bali when the family repatriated the body," said Dr. Gunawan, further claiming, "I already explained the autopsy results to the family, and they accepted my explanation." This statement stands in stark contrast to the family's grief and public doubts, triggering major controversy.
This incident has prompted full intervention by the Australian authorities. Senior officials from Australia based in Bali and Jakarta have raised the issue with the Indonesian government. The Australian Consulate General in Bali has also conveyed the family's concerns to relevant hospital officials. Meanwhile, a public investigation into Byron's cause of death has been launched by the Queensland Coroner's Court in hopes of clarifying the truth.
The 23-year-old man, Byron Hadlow from Queensland, was found dead earlier this year in the swimming pool of the villa he was staying at in Bali. His mother, Chantal, tearfully told Australia's Channel 9 that only four weeks after the body had been returned, she received an official call asking whether they were aware that her son's heart had been left in Bali. "Just when I thought my heart couldn't break any more, this is another blow through the heart."
She said in anguish: "I feel like there's murder involved. I believe something happened to him before he entered the water." The family's doubts stem from numerous questionable points about the case, including the fact that Byron, who was 178cm tall, was found drowned in a pool only 150cm deep, and that his body showed several unexplained injuries.
However, Dr. Gunawan, the Indonesian forensic pathologist who carried out the initial autopsy, refuted any allegations of misconduct on the 22nd in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald. "For forensic examination purposes, his heart was retained for testing and was left behind in Bali when the family repatriated the body," said Dr. Gunawan, further claiming, "I already explained the autopsy results to the family, and they accepted my explanation." This statement stands in stark contrast to the family's grief and public doubts, triggering major controversy.
This incident has prompted full intervention by the Australian authorities. Senior officials from Australia based in Bali and Jakarta have raised the issue with the Indonesian government. The Australian Consulate General in Bali has also conveyed the family's concerns to relevant hospital officials. Meanwhile, a public investigation into Byron's cause of death has been launched by the Queensland Coroner's Court in hopes of clarifying the truth.