Adelaide mum credits the late Dr Michael Yung with saving her baby who was born with cancer

A mother has told of how the late Dr Michael Yung’s quick thinking saved her baby son Eli – and thousands of others – before his alleged brutal murder in a home invasion.

Kodie Keed, pictured with partner Matt and son Eli, grew close to Dr Michael Yung when their son was treated for cancer, describing him as a 'quirky, incredible man'. Picture: Supplied

The highly regarded Adelaide doctor who passed away after a violent home invasion this week has been hailed a hero by the family of one of the patients he helped.

Blair Athol mother Kodie Keed told The Advertiser Dr Michael Yung’s quick thinking saved the life of her baby, Eli.

She explained how she now felt “numb” after hearing how the intensive care pediatrician, 61 had been attacked in his $2 million Gilberton home.

Dr Michael Yung’s life support was switched off in the RAH on Tuesday.

“As soon as I saw the picture I felt instantly numb. This man has helped so many people,” Ms Keed said.

“I immediately thought ‘how can I help the family’ because he’s helped so many families himself. I went into ‘return the favour’ mode.”

She called Dr Michael an “incredible person” with a “quirky” personality.

“I watched him comfort families who lost their babies and still uphold that professionalism. “You’ve got families who are screaming, who have just lost their child and he was just that strong figure. He was always there.”

LEAVE YOUR TRIBUTE TO DR YUNG HERE

Dr Michael Yung has died after he was attacked at his James St, Gilberton home.

Eli Keed, now 7, was treated by Dr Michael in ICU many times throughout the first two years of his life.

A prominent medical figure for 40 years, the devastating circumstances have prompted a ripple effect of pain, Ms Keed being just one of several families impacted.

The first two years of her son Eli’s life were a blur of hospital visits and painful conversations.

Eli was diagnosed with fibrosarcoma, a tumour that originates in the connective fibrous tissue at the ends of bones in the arms or legs, with his doting parents having to face the unthinkable when he was admitted into palliative care in 2018 and given 48 hours to live.

But with Dr Yung – affectionately known as “Doctor Michael” to the Keed family – in the room, Ms Keed said she always felt in the safest of hands.

“The first two years of Eli’s life were in and out of hospital. We had to have a few scary trips to ICU for some procedures,” Ms Keed explained.

Eli Keed was treated by Doctor Michael in the ICU as a baby, where he was diagnosed with cancer from birth. Picture: Supplied

“The last trip that was really touching, and it brought us a lot closer to Dr Michael when my son went palliative in April 2018,” Ms Keed recalled.

“Dr Michael was the doctor on call in ICU. They were going to perform a procedure and basically Dr Michael shut the procedure down and said he wouldn’t perform it unless he was dying because it was very risky.”

Ms Keed said they were told by some doctors Eli would be undergoing the procedure, but Dr Michael put their minds at ease.

“There was a confusing moment, a miscommunication, it was very hard for us to comprehend, but once I saw Dr Michael involved, I knew we were in safe hands,” she said.

“All the doctors were great in ICU, but if there were any doctors I wanted in the room that day, it was Doctor Michael.”

Having just celebrated his seventh birthday, Eli is cancer-free and living a “happy and healthy” life.

Kodie, Eli and his father Matt Keed said Doctor Michael was an ‘incredible man’. Picture: Supplied

‘Vale Dr Michael Yung’

Dr Michael Yung, 61, was the victim of a horror home invasion at his luxury inner eastern suburbs house.

Father-of-two Dr Yung, succumbed to catastrophic injuries, including being stabbed, after the alleged attack inside his $2m James St, Gilberton home early on Monday.

The former head of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital pediatric intensive care medical unit practised for almost 40 years.

He is credited with treating some of the state’s sickest, and most vulnerable, children.

Friends also paid tribute to the “typical Aussie bloke”, who loved the Hawthorn Football club, a passionate cricket follower and was a keen runner.

Health Minister Chris Picton and his department boss, Robyn Lawrence, hailed the clinician who treated some of the state’s “sickest children” as his distraught colleagues were offered counselling.

Police and detectives at the home of intensive care pediatrician Dr Michael Yung a day after he was assaulted during a break-in at his Gilberton home. Picture: Mark Brake

Residents, who reported hearing screams, also told how the area had been subject to a spate of recent break ins.

In a statement to The Advertiser on Monday night, Major Crime Investigation Branch officer in charge, Detective Superintendent Des Bray, said: “The investigation is in its infancy so it is too early to form a view if it is linked to other offences.

“But that will be one of a number of avenues of investigation police consider. Police believe the victim was attacked inside his home.

“The incident has been declared a major crime and (my team) will lead the investigation.”

Police urged anyone with dashcam footage between 3.30am and 5am Monday, within a 500m radius of James Street and Nottage Terrace at Gilberton to contact police.

It is the second tragedy to hit the family in recent years, after the father-of-two’s “kind, gentle and loving” wife mysteriously died in her sleep three years ago.

His son, 30, who is believed to have lived with him at the family home of 21 years, was uninjured. Detectives are treating him as a witness, and not a suspect.