Australian man, 23, dies in Bali, body sent back home with heart missing

The body of a 23-year-old Australian man who died in Bali was repatriated to Australia with a missing organ — his heart.

How did he die?

The late Byron Haddow, who was a Fly-In, Fly-Out (FIFO) worker, was in Bali for a vacation.

According to news.com.au, he was found unconscious in a pool inside a private villa on May 26, 2025.

However, it was not until May 30 that his death was reported to the police in Bali.

Haddow's body was initially transported to a private hospital, where a death certificate was issued.

The death certificate initially listed the cause of death as drowning.

Strong swimmer

It was reported that Haddow was a "strong swimmer".

The 178cm-tall man was found in a 150cm-deep pool.

He was also reportedly found with numerous cuts and bruises on his body, as well as blood found on the towels used to wrap his body.

On behalf of the family, Haddow's body was sent for a standard autopsy at a hospital in Denpasar on May 30. Subsequently, the police requested a more thorough forensic autopsy to be performed on Haddow's body.

The doctor who performed the forensic autopsy found that the probable cause of death was the combined effect of alcohol intoxication and an antidepressant, which could have prevented Haddow from escaping from the pool.

Four weeks later

According to a statement by his parents' legal representatives in Bali, Haddow's body was returned nearly four weeks after his death.

Two days before his funeral, however, the family were told by the coroner in Queensland that his heart was taken out and left behind in Bali.

This was apparently done without the family's consent.

Byron's mother, Chantal Haddow, told the media that she was shocked that her son's heart had been taken out.

Next steps

9News reported that the results of a local autopsy report are still pending.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) told News.com.au that they were "providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian who died in Bali".

"We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time," the statement read.

"Owing to our privacy obligations, we are unable to provide further comment."

Top photos via Byron Haddow's Instagram and Unsplash