The parents of Byron Haddow, a 23-year-old Australian tourist who died in Bali, discovered their son’s body was returned home without his heart. The young man was found unconscious in a swimming pool at a private villa on May 26 during his vacation in Indonesia. His death was not reported to police until four days later on May 30.
Byron’s body was returned to their home country “nearly four weeks after his death.” The missing organ was only discovered during a second autopsy conducted in Queensland. The family had to endure months of waiting and bureaucratic delays before learning about the missing heart just two days before their son’s scheduled funeral.
The parents had to pay $700 to get their son’s heart returned to them after his burial and funeral had already taken place. Months later, the family paid $700 to have the organ sent back. Robert and Chantal Haddow expressed their devastation in a statement saying they had endured “delay after delay, half-truths and silence” throughout the process, told Australian outlet News.com.au. They described the situation as “inhumane” and “devastating beyond words.”
Family discovers heart removal without consent
The heart was removed during a forensic autopsy performed at Ngurah General Hospital in Denpasar. Dr. Nola Margaret Gunawan, who conducted the autopsy, explained that she received two separate requests for autopsies on Byron’s body. One was requested by the family for clinical purposes, while the other came from Bali officials for forensic investigation.
[WORLD] Byron Haddow, a 23-year-old Australian, was found dead in a Bali villa pool on May 26. Though listed as a drowning, his family suspects foul play due to his strong swimming skills, injuries on his body, and the shallow pool depth of 150 cm—well below his 178 cm height.… pic.twitter.com/ArdaTuXXbT
— 鳳凰資訊 PhoenixTV News (@PhoenixTV_News) September 22, 2025
Dr. Gunawan defended the practice, stating that consent is not required for forensic autopsies under Indonesian Criminal Procedure Code. She explained that whole organ retention is common practice worldwide in forensic cases to determine cause of death. His heart was removed and retained by the hospital, something Gunawan said was common practice. The case highlights the devastating impact families face when dealing with unexpected tragedies abroad.
The forensic specialist suggested that Byron’s probable cause of death was a combination of alcohol intoxication and an antidepressant called Duloxetine, which may have prevented him from getting out of the pool. However, unexplained scars and bruises were found on his body during the examination.
Byron’s death remains under investigation by the Coroners Court of Queensland. The case has raised questions about international protocols regarding organ retention and family notification procedures. Like other families who have experienced sudden and shocking losses, the Haddows continue to seek answers and justice. The young man was remembered by his family and friends as “a son, brother, and friend to many taken way too soon.”
