Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
19 October 2002
The Department of Foreign Affairs has learnt that Mr Morne Viljoen, the South African citizen injured in the Bali Bomb blast has now been transferred from the Royal Darwin Hospital in Darwin to the Adelaide Hospital in Adelaide, Australia to receive specialised surgery.
"Morne Viljoen was transferred by a special medical aircraft to Adelaide, accompanied by a team of medical doctors and nursing staff, said Departmental spokesperson Nomfanelo Kota.
A South African official in our mission received Mr Viljoen's parents on arrival at the airport. " The visibly shaken parents later joined their son at his hospital bedside in a touching reunion, heartbreaking for both of them and the medical staff at the ward.
The doctors have indicated that because Mr Viljoen is strong and healthy, his situation might still improve, but his condition is critical as he suffered third degree burns and several fractures on his face.
He had earlier undergone a 10 - hour surgery for a skin grafting procedure and on the basis of the results, the doctors transferred him to Adelaide.
His parents will now depart for Adelaide tomorrow morning on a flight sponsored by Qantas Airlines and their accommodation will be provided for by the Red Cross.
For more information, contact Nomfanelo Kota at 082 377 7208 or (012) 351 0034/5/6
Issued by the Department of Foreign of Affairs Private Bag x 152 Pretoria 0001 18 October 2002