Dr. Victor Chang Cause of Death, What Happened to Victor Chang? Who Was Dr. Victor Chang?
by S Samayanka
Updated Nov 22, 2023
Dr. Victor Chang Cause of Death
Dr. Victor Chang, a renowned heart surgeon, met a tragic end on July 4, 1991, in Sydney. He was shot twice in the head during a failed extortion attempt. The perpetrators, Chew Seng Liew and Choon Tee Lim, randomly selected Chang after seeing his success in a magazine. They rammed their car into Chang's Mercedes, initiating an argument over money. When Chang refused, Liew fatally shot him.
The first bullet grazed Chang's face, while the second, fired at point-blank range, entered his temple and passed through his brain. Despite initial suspicions of Triad involvement, investigators later deemed the killing an amateur act. Dr. Victor Chang's untimely demise shocked the medical community and the public, highlighting the vulnerability of even the most accomplished individuals to senseless violence.
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What Happened to Victor Chang?
Dr. Victor Chang, was fatally shot twice in the head during an extortion attempt by Malaysian men Chew Seng Liew and Choon Tee Lim, randomly chosen from a magazine. The assailants forced Chang to stop by crashing into his car, and after a disagreement, Liew carried out the fatal shooting. Initially suspected to involve Triad syndicates, investigators later deemed it an amateur act.
Due to the abolition of the death penalty in 1985 in New South Wales, Liew received a 26-year prison sentence, while Lim, claiming ignorance of the gun, received 18 to 24 years. Stanley Ng, involved in an earlier extortion attempt, gained immunity for testifying. Chang's tragic death, mourned nationally, led to a state funeral, and his legacy lives on through the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. Liew was released on parole in 2012, sparking public debate and controversy.
Who was Dr. Victor Chang?
Dr. Victor Chang, AC, born Chang Yam Him, was a Chinese-born Australian cardiac surgeon and a trailblazer in modern heart transplantation. Born on November 21, 1936, he left an indelible mark on Australian medicine. After completing medical studies at the University of Sydney and training as a surgeon in the UK and the US, Chang returned to Australia and played a pivotal role in establishing the National Cardiac Transplant Unit at St Vincent's Hospital.
Renowned for his high success rate in heart transplants and his innovative work on artificial heart valves, Chang received numerous accolades, including being named a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1986.
Tragically, in 1991, he was murdered in a failed extortion attempt. Despite this, his legacy endures through the Dr. Victor Chang Foundation, the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, and the Dr. Victor Chang Lowy Packer Building at St Vincent's Hospital.
Name
Chang Yam Him
Date of Birth
21 November 1936
Place of Birth
Shanghai, China
Died
4 July 1991
Age at Death
Aged 54 years
Cause of Death
Murder (ballistic trauma)
Place of Death
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Nationality
Chinese and Australian
Dr. Victor Chang Early Life
Born in Shanghai to Australian-born Chinese-British parents, Dr. Victor Chang spent his formative years in Hong Kong. Following the tragic death of his mother from breast cancer in 1948, at the tender age of 12, he developed a deep-seated interest in medicine. In 1951, Chang's father, Aubrey, sent him and his younger sister to Sydney, Australia, to live with extended family.
His educational journey led him to Belmore Boys' High School and later Christian Brothers' High School in Lewisham, where he completed his secondary education. Victor Chang's pursuit of knowledge continued at the University of Sydney, culminating in his graduation in 1962 with a Bachelor of Medical Science with First-Class Honours and a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery. This early life narrative illuminates the roots of Chang's profound dedication to medicine, which later propelled him to become a pioneering figure in cardiac surgery.
Dr. Victor Chang Career
Dr. Victor Chang's illustrious career was marked by pioneering contributions to cardiothoracic surgery and groundbreaking advancements in the field of heart transplantation. After completing his medical education, Chang interned at St Vincent's Hospital, learning under cardiac surgeon Mark Shanahan, and further honed his skills in London under British surgeon Aubrey York Mason. Becoming a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1966, he continued his training in cardiothoracic surgery at the Royal Brompton Hospital.
In the United States, Chang spent two transformative years at the Mayo Clinic, rising to the position of chief resident. Returning to St Vincent's Hospital in 1972, he played a pivotal role in the hospital's cardiothoracic surgery department.
Collaborating with surgeon Harry Windsor, Chang advocated for heart transplants, successfully establishing a heart transplant program in 1980. His team achieved notable success, performing over 197 heart transplants and 14 heart–lung transplants between 1984 and 1990, with a remarkable 90% survival rate beyond the first year.
Driven by concerns about organ shortages, Chang led a multidisciplinary team to develop an artificial heart and affordable heart valves. In 1980, he co-founded Pacific Biomedical Enterprises Ltd., contributing to the development of mechanical and tissue heart valves widely used in Asia. Chang's dedication to advancing medical science and international relations earned him the prestigious Companion of the Order of Australia in 1986, a testament to his enduring legacy in the medical community.
Who Killed Dr. Victor Chang?
Dr. Victor Chang was killed by a Malaysian citizen named Chiew Seng Liew. In a tragic incident in Sydney on July 4, 1991, Liew, along with another accomplice, engaged in a failed extortion attempt against Dr. Chang. The assailants forced him to stop his car, and after a disagreement, Liew shot Dr. Chang twice, resulting in his untimely death. The murder shocked Australia and is considered one of the country's most notorious crimes.
Dr. Victor Chang Cause of Death - FAQs
Dr. Victor Chang was fatally shot twice in the head during a failed extortion attempt in Sydney.
Malaysian citizens Chew Seng Liew and Choon Tee Lim were responsible for Dr. Chang's murder.
The assailants, after randomly selecting Dr. Chang, forced him to stop his car by crashing into it and shot him during a disagreement over money.
Chew Seng Liew received a 26-year prison sentence, and Choon Tee Lim received 18 to 24 years for their roles in Dr. Chang's murder.
Dr. Victor Chang's legacy endures through the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, the Dr. Victor Chang Foundation, and the Dr. Victor Chang Lowy Packer Building at St Vincent's Hospital.