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eventREF E-0012091Revised

Event record

Louis Washkansky dies

Louis Washkansky dies

Date
21 Dec 1967
Updated
30 Sep 2019
Louis Washkansky dies

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 brought on by a weakened immune system. Heart transplants have become routine procedures since then. Although Washkansky later died, Barnard considered the surgery a success.

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How we know this

  1. 01SAHO Louis Washkansky [online] Available at: www.sahistory.org.za [Accessed on 30 October 2013]
  2. 02Heart-transplant Louis Washkansky World's  first heart transplant 3rd December 1967 [online] Available at: www.heart-transplant.co.uk [Accessed on 30 October 2013]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Louis Washkansky dies. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012091

South African History Online (2011) 'Louis Washkansky dies', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012091 (Accessed: 6 August 2026).

South African History Online, Louis Washkansky dies [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012091, (accessed 6 August 2026).

"Louis Washkansky dies." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012091. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Louis Washkansky dies." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012091.

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