A British father killed in South Africa after taking a wrong turn has been named as an award-winning surgeon.
Kar Hao Teoh, 40, was on holiday with his wife Sara and two-year-old son Hugo when they accidentally drove into Cape Town’s Nyanga township close to the city’s international airport last week. The vehicle was then approached by a group before a gun was fired.
Street clashes sparked by a week-long taxi drivers’ strike had erupted in the area and Mr Teoh died from a single gunshot to the head.
The surgeon lived in Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, with his family and was based at the NHS Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex.
Confirming his death, the hospital said: “He was a well-respected member of the team, valued colleague and friend to many across the hospital as well as in regional, national and international trauma and orthopaedic networks.”
A Harley Street colleague, Professor Paul Lee, said: “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of our esteemed colleague and dear friend, Mr Kar Teoh, a respected trauma and orthopaedic consultant who left us too soon.
“He was a guiding light in our professional community, a devoted friend, and a cornerstone of many significant projects. For those of us privileged to call him a friend and colleague, Kar was a trustworthy and steadfast presence.”
Mr Teoh’s cousin Sancy Low, wrote on Facebook: “He had a great sense of humour and would have wanted things to be light and fuss-free.”
A Just Giving page set up in memory of Mr Teoh with a target of £50,000 has already raised more than £25,000. One friend posted on Facebook: “This doctor was a very good friend and colleague who was murdered while on holiday, it would be greatly appreciated if you could spare any amount to help.”
Friends revealed the surgeon, who was born in Singapore but had British nationality, had been sending pictures of his African safari shortly before he was killed.
One tribute from schoolfriend Danny Wong read: “Everyone knew who Kar Hao was in school. You could never miss him in a crowd. All his teachers loved him. His friends in school all liked him.”
A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed it was supporting Mr Teoh’s family and speaking to local authorities.
Protests erupted in South Africa after a law was introduced giving the authorities the power to impound taxi driver’s vehicles for driving without a licence or registration plates. Police started impounding vehicles last week, sparking violence as protesters set buses and cars alight and pelted the police with stones. Cape Town city mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said: “In Cape Town, violence will never be tolerated as a negotiating tactic.”
A Cape Town police spokesman said: “The deceased was seated in the driver seat with a gunshot wound to the head. Two passengers in shock and an infant were transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.”
