Australian officials are investigating how Byron Haddow’s body was returned from Bali without his heart after the 23-year-old Queensland man died there.
Haddow was found dead in a plunge pool at a Bali villa on 26 May 2025. Police were not notified until four days later on 30 May, after the scene had been contaminated.
Body returned, heart missing
Haddow’s body was sent back to Australia nearly four weeks after his death. A Queensland autopsy revealed his heart was missing.
The Queensland Coroner told Haddow’s parents, Robert and Chantal, about the missing organ just two days before their son’s funeral. The family says they never gave permission for organ removal and received no advance warning from Indonesian or Australian authorities.
Balinese doctor explains removal
Dr Nola Margaret Gunawan, who conducted the Bali autopsy, said she removed Byron’s heart for forensic testing. She stated this follows Indonesian legal requirements for forensic cases. Indonesian law does not require family consent for forensic autopsies.
Gunawan said she provided complete explanations and autopsy results to the family. The heart was later returned to Australia after the funeral. The family paid $700 for this return.
Diplomatic pressure mounts
Australian authorities have demanded explanations from Indonesian officials about the organ retention. Senior Australian officials made formal complaints to Indonesia. The Australian Consulate-General in Bali raised the family’s concerns with hospital officials.
Australia’s foreign ministry confirmed it was providing consular help to the Haddow family but declined further comment citing privacy obligations.
Two autopsies conducted
Byron’s body had a clinical autopsy at his family’s request before returning to Australia. Balinese authorities then ordered a full forensic autopsy at Bali’s Sanglah Hospital.
Dr Gunawan said international forensic practice allows whole organ retention when needed to determine cause of death. The initial cause was listed as drowning. Toxicology results showed alcohol and the antidepressant Duloxetine may have prevented Byron from escaping the pool. Unexplained scars and bruises were also documented.
Investigation continues
Byron’s funeral proceeded before his heart returned from Indonesia. The family’s lawyer confirmed Byron’s death remains under coronial investigation in Queensland. The Coroners Court of Queensland has not released additional findings.
