JAKARTA: Bali Police are set to resume their investigation into the death of Byron Haddow, a 23-year-old Australian tourist who drowned in a villa in the popular North Kuta area in May.
The case drew renewed attention recently after Haddow’s family discovered that his body was repatriated to Australia without his heart, sparking concerns of foul play.
Bali Police spokesperson Sr Comr. Ariasandy said authorities planned to collaborate with the Australian Federal Police to interview three Australians who were staying with Haddow at the time of the incident.
“Bali Police have not yet had the opportunity to question the three Australians, as they left the island shortly after the incident,” he said on Wednesday.
According to Ariasandy, Haddow’s body was found floating in the pool of The Grove Villa in North Kuta at around 8am on May 26.
According to CCTV footage, Haddow spent the evening before his death drinking alcohol by the pool with three fellow Australian tourists and villa roommates: Bailey Peter Woods, Kristy Lee Pepperell and Jade Emeleah Lucas. It remains unclear if Haddow had any personal ties to them.
The trio reportedly left Haddow alone at the pool before going to bed. The following morning, Woods discovered Haddow’s body floating in the pool.
The three Australians reportedly left the villa immediately after the incident, even before medical personnel arrived.
However, Bailey later returned to the villa after the manager requested him to provide Haddow’s passport for documentation purposes.
An autopsy conducted at Prof. Ngoerah Hospital revealed that Haddow died from alcohol poisoning. Forensic doctors found a high concentration of ethanol in Haddow’s system, along with the presence of duloxetine, a medication commonly prescribed to treat depression and anxiety.
Although the exact amount of duloxetine could not be determined, experts noted that combining this medication with alcohol can significantly increase the risk of central nervous system depression, impairing judgment and cognitive function.
These impairments may have prevented Haddow from removing himself from the water, contributing to his death. Haddow’s body was repatriated to Australia four weeks after his death, but a second autopsy revealed that his heart was missing, AFP reported.
“Just when I thought I couldn’t feel any more heartbroken, it was another kick in the guts,” Haddow’s mother, Chantal Haddow, told Australia’s Channel Nine.
“I feel like there was foul play. I think that something happened to him prior to being in the pool.”
Haddow’s heart was only returned to his family in Queensland in August, more than two months after his death. Despite concerns raised by Haddow’s family, I Made Darmajaya, medical director of nursing and support services at Prof Ngoerah Hospital, stated that all autopsy procedures on Haddow’s body followed standard medical protocols. He also dismissed allegations that the hospital was involved in organ theft.
“Our hospital has never engaged in any misconduct, especially organ theft. Such rumours are baseless,” Darmajaya said on Wednesday.
He explained that in some cases, the heart must be removed intact to accurately identify abnormalities. Preparing and analysing heart tissue can take up to a month, as precision and thoroughness are essential for proper examination.
“Haddow’s body and heart had to be repatriated separately due to the extended time needed to complete the internal organ analysis,” he added.
Ni Luh Arie Ratna Sukasari, the legal representative for Haddow’s family in Bali, stated that her client remains committed to pursuing justice until the full circumstances surrounding the incident are uncovered.
“We want to emphasise that what happened to Byron Haddow is a serious issue involving legal, ethical and human rights concerns.
The family will keep pursuing justice until the full truth comes to light,” Ratna said during a press conference on Wednesday.
The family was deeply disappointed to discover that Haddow’s heart was missing from his body just days before the funeral, a decision made without their consent or any clear explanation from the officials involved.
Ratna added that Prof Ngoerah Hospital arranged the heart’s repatriation without providing any clarification and demanded an additional A$700 (US$461.47) from the family to cover the cost of the organ’s return.
Ratna urged the police to conduct a full, transparent and independent investigation into Haddow’s death. She pointed out several troubling inconsistencies, including unexplained bruises on his face and body, as well as suspicious financial transactions before his death.
“Transparency from all relevant institutions is crucial to uphold the rule of law and restore public trust in both law enforcement and medical authorities in Indonesia,” she emphasized. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
