Louis Washkansky

Date: 21 December, 1967

Fifty four year old dentist Louis Washkansky, recipient of the first successful human heart transplant in the world, died in Cape Town, eighteen days after receiving the heart of Denise Darvall who had been involved in a car accident. The heart transplant operation was performed by Dr. Christiaan Barnard at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town on 3 December 1963. Washkansky died of pneumonia.

References

• Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau.
• www.deadoraliveinfo.com/dead.nsf/wnames-nf/Washkansky+Louis
• africanhistory.about.com/od/december/a/td1221.htm
• zar.co.za/barnard.htm (image source)