WCH Dr Michael Yung alleged murder: Family’s emotional tribute about his death that ‘has left a hole that will never be filled’

Dr Michael Yung’s heartbroken brother is confident he didn’t know his alleged killers as he paid tribute to the late Adelaide doctor.

Michael Yung (Right) with his wife and son Ronan in 1996. Picture: Facebook

The heartbroken brother of Adelaide doctor, Michael Yung, has described him as a “truly selfless man” after he was allegedly murdered in his eastern suburbs home.

Father-of-two Dr Yung, 61, died from catastrophic injuries, including being stabbed in his abdomen, after the attack inside his $2m James St, Gilberton, home on Monday.

Dr Yung’s brother Simon told 7 News he was confident the late doctor didn’t know his alleged killers, Jacinta Davila, 27, and her co-accused Kerem Aydin, 22, who have been charged with one count each of murder, serious criminal trespass and committing theft using force.

“My brother Michael has a heart bigger than himself,” he said.

“He worked literally on a dirt floor to set up an intensive care paediatric unit. And God only knows how many lives he saved or made better and that is typical of him.”

Dr Yung established a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit in Kilifi, Kenya, and also worked in remote Indigenous communities.

In 2020 Michael established the Kathryn Browne-Yung Foundation charity in the name of his late wife who passed away suddenly and unexpectedly three years ago.

The Foundation supports scholarships for Indigenous medical students.

“He would put every cent that he made doing locum work into that scholarship fund,” Simon told 7News. “He truly was a selfless man.”

Dr Michael Yung. Picture: Courtesy of SA Health

Dr Michael Yung was allegedly murdered in his home. Picture: supplied by family

Dr Yung’s family also paid an emotional tribute earlier this week in a statement issued through Major Crime police.

“We are all absolutely devastated by Michael’s death,” they said.

“He was a loving and loved father, son, brother, uncle and cousin. His death has left a hole in our hearts that will never be filled.

“Michael was a knowledgeable, skilled and compassionate pediatric intensive care specialist. “He dedicated his life to the care and treatment of critically ill children and their families at their most vulnerable time.

“His selfless devotion to these children and families extended not just across South Australia but throughout the nation, and internationally.”

Dr Yung’s family described him as a “wise and patient teacher and mentor to generations of aspiring ICU doctors”.

“He was loved and respected by his colleagues, staff and students and all those who were privileged to know and work with him,” they said.

Police at the scene of the home invasion that killed Dr Michael Yung at Gilberton. Picture: 7NEWS

His family added: “If people wish to remember Michael we invite them to contribute to this Foundation. Please visit https://kbyfoundation.org.au.”

The family “expresses our profound thanks to all who were involved in Michael’s care: the first responders of paramedics and police, the doctors, nurses and other staff at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and all those involved in the investigation”.

“Our deep gratitude for their compassion and understanding is beyond words,” they said.

His family, including his two adult sons, sister and brother, had earlier made the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life support machine in the RAH’s intensive care unit.

His devastated relatives, some of whom made mercy flights from interstate and overseas, are understood to have granted his wish to donate his organs.

Despite their best efforts, senior Royal Adelaide Hospital doctors had concluded that he had “non-survivable” injuries.

He had been in a critical condition for the past two days in an induced coma after emergency surgery.

Dr Yung, a keen runner, was a passionate campaigner for Indigenous health, which included developing an Aboriginal medical student scholarship.

His violent death, which has stunned the country’s medical community, has been declared a major crime.

In an unprecedented development, all available Major Crime Investigation Branch detectives were drafted in to investigate his attack.

Kerem Aydin, 22, and Jacinta Davila, 27, of Thebarton, have been charged with murder.