Eminent Adelaide pediatrician Dr Michael Yung fighting for life in RAH after being attacked in Gilberton home invasion

Police are leaving no stone unturned in their search for those responsible for a horror home invasion and attack on a beloved Adelaide doctor.

Victim Michael Yung has life-threatening injuries after an assault in Gilberton on Monday morning.

One of South Australia’s most eminent doctors is fighting for his life in hospital and his assailants are on the run as authorities declare the violent Adelaide home invasion a major crime.

Intensive care pediatrician Dr Michael Yung, 61, was the victim of a “life-threatening assault” during the allegedly unprovoked break-in inside his $2m James St, Gilberton home at 4.20am on Monday.

Police said Dr Yung, the former head of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital pediatric intensive care medical unit who has practised medicine for almost 40 years, was found with “serious injuries”.

Detectives launched a large-scale search for those responsible, as the break-in – in one of the state’s most affluent suburbs on the CBD’s northeastern outskirts – was declared a major crime.

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.

Dr Michael Yung, who is the former head of the WCH's ICU, was attacked in his Gilberton home early on Monday. Picture: WCH

Major Crime investigators, who Eastern District CIB detectives are assisting, were focussing inquiries on another attempted break-in hours earlier.

They are also investigating if the highly respected doctor confronted his attackers during the random break-in, which then escalated into violence.

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 dash-cam 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.

The paediatric ICU specialist, a keen runner, is in a critical condition in an induced coma with life threatening injuries in the Royal Adelaide Hospital’s intensive care unit after emergency surgery.

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.

James Street in Gilberton is closed with police finding a man at his home with serious injuries. The victim, a man in his 60s, was taken to the RAH for treatment. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

His family, including a second son, are said to be travelling to Adelaide from interstate and overseas to be at his bedside along with his other boy and close friends.

Mr Picton said: “This is an incredibly sad day for all of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital and SA Health family.

“Over the past few years I’ve been witness to Michael’s incredible intellect and compassion - completely and totally dedicated to the care of the children of our state.

“Michael has been there for so many South Australian children and families at their darkest times - now it is time for all of us to be there for him and his family.

“My thoughts are with him and his family, friends and colleagues during this terrible time.

“I also thank the first responders and treating medical team who are doing their best to care for Michael.”

SA Health chief executive, Robyn Lawrence, said her thoughts, and those of everyone at her agency, “are with Dr Yung, his family and his colleagues”.

“Dr Yung has been a long-serving clinician of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital and has cared for some of South Australia’s sickest children,” she said.

“I’m grateful to our colleagues at the Royal Adelaide Hospital for the care they’re providing to Dr Yung, and our thoughts are with them also.”

Acting Women’s and Children’s Health Network chief executive, Rebecca Graham, said Dr Yung was a “treasured colleague, mentor and friend”.

She said counselling was being offered to distraught staff as she said everyone at the network sent their thoughts to his family.

“Dr Yung is a revered and talented Intensive Care clinician at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital where he’s worked for the past 20 years, including several years as the Medical Unit Head of the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit," she said.

“He has provided exceptional care to some of the sickest and most vulnerable children.

“We are grateful to our colleagues at the Royal Adelaide Hospital for showing him the same care and compassion he has shown countless families.

“Dr Yung is a treasured colleague, mentor and friend to many at the WCH and we are holding (his) team closely at this time.”

Police seen outside a home at James Street in Gilberton after a man was found at his home with serious injuries. The victim, a man in his 60s, was taken to the RAH for treatment. Picture: David Mariuz

The doctor, an intensive care medicine specialist, was a high profile member of the WCH’s team after records showed he graduated from Melbourne University with medical degree in 1985.

He was a highly respected paediatric intensivist and examiner who sat on a pediatrics examination committee for the College of Intensive Care Medicine.

It is understood he was married to Kathryn Browne-Yung, an eminent health policy expert, who died suddenly in March 2020.

After her death, Dr Yung established a scholarship in her name to support Aboriginal medical students.

Colleagues have been left “devastated” at the attack on Dr Yung, who is currently a WCH senior emergency department consultant.

“It is incomprehensible,” said one close friend. “With all of our easy lives, this is just awful.

“It’s hard to describe how much we admired, and still admire, Michael.”

Neighbours expressed shock at the crime, which occurred in one of the state’s most exclusive areas where some of the Adelaide’s wealthiest business and community leaders live.

Police speak to residents outside a home in Gilberton. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz.

Police closed off the entire stretch of James St between Walkerville Tce and Edwin Tce.

Five police cars including a crime scene investigation van are currently at the scene.

The entrance to a two-storey, white brick mansion has been cordoned off with yellow police tape.

An SA Police spokesman said the injuries “appeared life threatening” but the details of how they were sustained “required more investigation”.

Speaking to The Advertiser, at least three Gilberton residents, who did not wish to be named, said they had been broken into recently.

One resident said that police often patrolled the area at night, and another said she recently installed CCTV cameras after thieves jumped her gate and stole a bike.

Police searched the area but have been unable to locate any suspects at this time.

A swarm of uniformed officers, crime scene investigators and detectives are at the scene.

Anyone with information who has not yet spoken to police is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. You can remain anonymous.