A FRIEND of the British surgeon shot dead in front of his family says the last message he received from him were photos from his holiday.
Kar Hao Teoh’s car was blasted several times after he took a wrong turn into the middle of a riot in strife-torn Nyanga near Cape Town’s airport.
CollectKar Hao Teoh, from Hertfordshire, was shot dead in front of his wife and baby in Cape Town[/caption]
CollectDr Teoh (left) was a much-loved Harley Street surgeon[/caption]
The 40-year-old was gunned down in the South African city in front of his wife Sara and two-year-old son Hugo mistakenly drove into a riot from the airport.
His pal Danny Wong has now told how the last time he heard from Mr Teoh he shared photos from his holiday.
He said: “Kar Hao’s last few messages to me were pictures of his safari trip, a picture of some crocodiles and elephants in the marsh.
“And also some pictures of the outdoor cooker he bought so his in-laws could have a wet kitchen to cook in.
“We talked about how he could install an awning outside in his garden so the cooker could be used outdoors in the shade.
“Everyone knew who Kar Hao was in school. You could never miss him in a crowd.
“This tall lanky Chinese guy with a distinctive mark on his left cheek, always with a ready smile. All his teachers loved him. His friends in school all liked him.”
Community worker Dumisani Qwebe revealed how he saw Mr Teoh, who was slumped across the passenger seat of his silver Toyota Rav 4 holiday hire car, killed by a single bullet.
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 the car.
Police liaison chief Mr Qwebe came across the victim’s traumatised wife Sara and their two-year-old son Hugo shaking with shock near the scene.
He had driven through the riot zone as officers cordoned off the area moments after the shooting.
Mr Qwebe, Nyanga Community Police Forum secretary, told The Sun: “The doors were wide open so I could see inside.
“Both the windscreen and driver’s window were shattered by gunshots and the driver was slumped over onto the front passenger seat.
“Multiple shots had been fired and it looked like one had hit him in the head.”
A few minutes later the officer entered Nyanga Police Station where he saw the victim’s family members – two women in their forties and a child.
The three passengers – including Hugo – were taken to hospital for treatment for severe trauma.
Mr Qwebe said: “I could see they were all very traumatised.
‘GUIDING LIGHT’
“They were still shaking and the police were trying to calm them down. They didn’t look injured but there were spots of blood on their clothes.”
A Cape Town police spokesman said Mr Teoh was found dead in the driver’s seat with a gunshot wound to the head.
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 has raised more than £30,000.
Violence erupted in Nyanga in Cape Town during a taxi driver strike