A deeply unfortunate incident unfolded as a Singapore-born British doctor, Dr Teoh Kar Hao, was killed during a family vacation in South Africa. A family trip turned tragic, as a series of unfortunate events led to his death amid a taxi drivers’ protest.
About Dr Teoh Kar Hao
Dr Teoh Kar Hao, aged 40, was a respected consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex.
According to his LinkedIn profile, he was educated at Raffles Institution and Raffles Junior College from 1996 to 2001, later earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Medicine from the University of Edinburgh.
British media revealed that he was born in Singapore, though details about his exact citizenship status remain unclear.
Dr Teoh was enjoying a family holiday with his wife and two-year-old son when the tragic incident took place. Friends, classmates, and colleagues remember him as a well-respected individual, and tributes have poured in through an online memorial.
What Happened
On 3 August, while driving from Cape Town International Airport with his family, Dr Teoh reportedly took a wrong turn and ended up near an area where a taxi drivers’ strike was happening. Caught in the crossfire, he sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
“In Ntlangano Crescent, a number of suspects approached his vehicle, shot and killed him,” a spokeswoman for the police minister told BBC News.
The incident occurred around 6:30 pm local time. Dr Teoh succumbed to his injuries, and his wife and child were subsequently taken to the hospital for medical treatment.
Dr Teoh’s death was one of five fatalities during the protest, and no arrests have been made regarding his death.
Dr Teoh’s former classmates, friends, and colleagues have united, setting up an online platform for sharing thoughts, memories, and tributes. A crowdfunding campaign has also been initiated, aiming to raise £50,000 for his young family.
Princess Alexandra Hospital released a statement honoring Dr Teoh as “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.”
The British Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society also left a tribute to him on Facebook: