SOUTH AFRICA: FUNERAL OF DR PHILIP BLAIBERG -- THE WORLD'S LONGEST SURVIVING HEART TRANSPLANT PATIENT.

Record ID: 460422

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FUNERAL OF DR PHILIP BLAIBERG -- THE WORLD'S LONGEST SURVIVING HEART TRANSPLANT PATIENT.
  • Date: 20th August 1969
  • Summary: CREMATORIUM; PEOPLE ARRIVE; MRS BLAIBERG WITH DAUGHTER AND MRS HAUPT; HEARSE ARRIVES; MOURNERS AND RABBI; FLAG OVER COFFIN; HELMET ON FLAG; PROFESSOR BARNARD AND OTHER MOURNERS; GROOTE SCHUUR HOSPITAL; BARNARD GIVES PRESS CONFERENCE. Initials GHB/VS/JF/ES EDITORS NOTE: OUR PROD. 7389/69 SERVICED YESTERDAY REFERS. Script is copyright Reuters Limited. Al
  • Embargoed: 4th September 1969 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
  • Country: South Africa
  • Reuters ID: LVA1GFH7VHQRZZWHYN4ZT0476NRK
  • Story Text: DR. PHILIP BLAIBERG, WHO UNTIL HIS DEATH ON AUGUST 17 WAS THE WORLD'S LONGEST SURVIVING HEART TRANSPLANT PATIENT, WAS BURIED ON MONDAY (AUGUST 18) IN THE SHADOW OF TABLE MOUNTAIN. THE FUNERAL SERVICE WAS ATTENDED BY ABOUT 400 PEOPLE INCLUDING DR BLAIBERG'S WIFE EILEEN, HIS DAUGHTER JILL, PROFESSOR CHRISTIAN BARNARD WHO PERFORMED THE TRANSPLANT AND MRS DOROTHY HAUPT, WIFE OF THE DONOR OF THE HEART WHICH DR. BLAIBERG ALIVE FOR 563 DAYS AFTER THE OPERATION.

    DR BLAIBERG, WHO WAS ABLE TO LIVE WHAT AMOUNTED TO A NEAR-NORMAL LIFE AFTER THE OPERATION, DIED SUDDENLY AFTER A RAPID DETERIORATION IN HIS CONDITION. HIS DEATH WAS CAUSED BY CHRONIC REJECTION OF THE NEW HEART.

    BEFORE THE FUNERAL, PROFESSOR BARNARD HAD PROMISED AT A PRESS CONFERENCE THAT HE WOULD CONTINUE HIS PIONEERING SURGERY. HE SAID THAT DR BALIBERG'S DEATH SHOULD NOT CAUSE DESPONDENCY. "WE STARTED WITH PATIENTS WHO WERE GOING TO DIE ANYWAY", SAID THE PROFESSOR, "AND WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THE ULTIMATE CURE FOR REJECTION IS GOING TO COME."
    DR BLAIBERG RECEIVED THE HEART OF OLIVE HAUPT, A COLOURED MAN WHO HAD DIED OF A BRAIN HAMORRAHAGE, ON JANUARY 2 LAST YEAR.

    HIS DEATH LEAVES FATHER DAMIEN BOULOGNE, A FRENCH DOMINICAN PRIEST, AS THE LONGEST SURVIVING HART TRANSPLANT PATIENT. FATHER BOULOGNE EXPRESSED SORROW AT THE NEWS, BUT SAID THE PRINCIPLE OF HEART TRANSPLANT REMAINED VALID.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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