A Singapore-born doctor has tragically passed away in South Africa after reportedly being shot and killed.
40-year-old Dr Teoh Kar Hao was in the country with his wife and son when he took a wrong turn towards protesters.
Source: Kar H Teoh on LinkedIn
A crowdfunding page has been set up to support his family.
Dr Teoh was on holiday with his family and driving in Cape Town last Thursday (3 Aug) when the incident occurred, the BBC reported.
At about 6.30pm local time, he took a wrong turn from the airport and headed towards Nyanga, a township in the city adjacent to the airport, a police spokesperson said.
The area is the scene of violent protests involving taxi drivers and operators in response to moves by the police to enforce a new traffic law.
Source: Cape Frontier on X
At Ntlangano Crescent road, a number of suspects approached the vehicle Dr Teoh drove, in which his wife and son were passengers.
They shot and killed him, the spokesman said.
Police officers found him in the driver’s seat with gunshot wounds to his head, reported Cape Town Etc.
His wife and son, who were “in shock”, were taken to hospital for medical treatment.
The South African police have opened an investigation into the killing.
The British High Commission in the country is supporting Dr Teoh’s family, the IOL news portal quoted them as saying.
According to Dr Teoh’s LinkedIn profile, he was a consultant foot and ankle surgeon at Princess Alexandra Hospital in the United Kingdom (UK).
Source: Google Maps
He graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2007 and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2016.
The doctor lived in Bishop’s Stortford, a town in Hertfordshire, England.
The Bishop’s Stortford Independent reported on Thursday (10 Aug) that the hospital paid tribute to him, remembering him as “a well-respected member of the team, a valued colleague and friend”.
While Dr Teoh is reportedly a British national, his Facebook profile states that he is from Singapore.
He studied at Raffles Institution from 1996 to 1999, according to his LinkedIn profile, and then at Raffles Junior College from 2000 to 2001.
A woman named Sancy Low, who posted on Facebook saying that he was her cousin, confirmed this information.
Ms Low also appealed to those who knew Dr Teoh to send photos, memories, and letters to his mother, wife, and two-year-old son, so that the young boy may know about his father through them.
Source: JustGiving.com
As her cousin was a Buddhist, she said well-wishers may also send their daily thoughts, good deeds and prayers for his passing until 11 Nov. This will mark 100 days after his death, following which he will be “making his way to heaven and finding his final place of rest”.
Members of the public may send their condolences to remembering.karhao@gmail.com.
A crowdfunding page has also been set up for Dr Teoh’s family.
The write-up stated that the page is “in honour of his (Kar’s) memory and in recognition of the profound loss his family faces”.
All funds will go directly towards supporting his family and helping them navigate the challenges ahead.
So far, donors have already contributed £31,974 (S$54, 902).
MS News extends our deepest condolences to Dr Teoh’s loved ones. Hopefully, those responsible for this senseless killing will be brought to justice soon.
Sadly, this isn’t the only violent incident this year that has claimed the life of someone with ties to Singapore.
In June, a Singaporean businessman was shot and killed after leaving a grocery store in the Philippines.
Mr Chan Kim Tay left behind his Filipino wife and three children.
A police officer told the media that an unidentified person approached him and shot him in the head.
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Featured image adapted from Kar H Teoh on LinkedIn and @BarendsCrypto on X.
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