A BRITISH dad who was killed by a single gunshot to the head in Cape Town was a top Harley Street surgeon on a family trip.
Kar Hao Teoh, 40, was gunned down in Nyanga in front of his wife Sara and two-year-old son Hugo after he took a wrong turn from the airport and accidentally drove into a riot.
Kar Hao Teoh, from Hertfordshire, was shot dead in front of his wife and baby in Cape Town
Dr Teoh (left) was a much-loved Harley Street surgeon – described as a ‘guiding light’
ReutersViolence erupted in Nyanga in Cape Town during a taxi driver strike[/caption]
Street clashes sparked by a week-long taxi drivers strike had erupted in the area and the Brit, who was born in Singapore, is understood to have been killed when he stopped his silver Toyota Rav 4.
Two passengers in the car – including Hugo – were taken to hospital for treatment for severe trauma.
A Cape Town police spokesman said: “The deceased was seated in the driver seat with a gunshot wound to the head.
“Two passengers in shock and an infant were transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.”
Mr Teoh, from Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, worked as a trauma and orthopaedic consultant and had been awarded several international fellowships.
He was based at the NHS Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow.
Harley Street colleague Professor Paul Lee described the doctor as a “guiding light” in an emotional tribute.
He said: “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of our esteemed colleague and dear friend, Mr Kar Teoh, a respected trauma and orthopaedic consultant who left us too soon.
“He was a guiding light in our professional community, a devoted friend, and a cornerstone of many significant projects.
“For those of us privileged to call him a friend and colleague, Kar was a trustworthy and steadfast presence.
“The loss of Mr Kar Teoh leaves a void in our hearts and community.
“His professional dedication was unparalleled, but it was his personal warmth, his commitment to friendship, and his unwavering support that we will remember most fondly.”
Prof Lee said a JustGiving page had been set up in Mr Teoh’s memory to help support his family – which had, within hours, raised £25,000.
Friends were invited to send pictures and memories of the much-loved surgeon.
Two years ago, Mr Teoh won the Presidential Prize at the European Foot and Ankle Society conference in Lyon for his research.
Lirandzu Themba, the spokeswoman for the police minister, said the doctor took a wrong turn towards Nyanga.
“In Ntlangano Crescent a number of suspects approached his vehicle, shot and killed him. No arrests yet,” she said.
A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed it was supporting Mr Teoh’s family and speaking to local authorities.
Protests erupted after a law was introduced giving the authorities the power to impound taxi driver’s vehicles for driving without a licence, or registration plates.
Cops started impounding vehicles last week – sparking violence as protesters torched buses and cars and pelted the police with stones.
The office of the City of Cape Town said the riots had hit commuters leaving people stranded due to attacks on public transport.
Cape Town city mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said: “In Cape Town, violence will never be tolerated as a negotiating tactic.”
Nyanga is one of the most dangerous places in South Africa.
The 40-year-old was killed after taking a wrong turn from the airport in Cape Town
ReutersProtests erupted after new laws were brought in for taxi drivers[/caption]