The Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Cape Town wishes to express its sadness and anger following the senseless murder of fellow health professional colleague, Dr Louis Heyns, who was based at the University of Stellenbosch. Dr Heyns went missing last week on his way home from visiting his son, and his body was discovered yesterday morning.

Dr Heyns was not a UCT staff member, but worked closely with our paediatric staff at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital for many years. His tragic death is a huge loss in the field of paediatric medical care and student teaching. He worked for many years in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and the Department of Paediatrics at Tygerberg Hospital, teaching the Advanced Paediatric Life Support Course and collaborating with UCT colleagues on teaching courses on Paediatric Life Support. As a senior member of the PICU team at Tygerberg Hospital, Dr Heyns was frequently in contact with his UCT colleagues at Red Cross PICU discussing the best way in which to deal with critically ill or injured children.

All of us as health professionals, especially our staff who worked with him, are very affected by this senseless tragedy and the loss of a highly respected health colleague who dedicated his life to servicing seriously ill children.

We extend our sincere condolences to his family and all those who knew and worked with him, and wish them strength in the coming days.

Prof Susan Kidson

Interim Dean: Faculty of Health Sciences