Doctor Jack Kerry dies aged 87, three years after a coronial inquest into the overdose of his daughter and her friend

Three years after fronting a coronial inquest over his daughter’s heroin overdose, the city-based doctor has died.

A prominent Adelaide doctor – who became embroiled in a coronial inquest involving the heroin overdoses of his daughter and her friend – has died.

Dr Jack Kerry passed away peacefully on August 4, aged 87, after working as a doctor in Adelaide for more than 60 years.

A respected medical professional, Dr Kerry’s life was turned upside down when he found his daughter Athena Kyriacou and her friend Luke Pike had overdosed on heroin inside his CBD medical practice in 2016.

Dr Jack Kerry arrives to give evidence in the Coroners inquest into the death of Lucas Adam Pike at the Coroners Court in Adelaide in 2019. Picture: AAP/Kelly Barnes

While Dr Kerry’s daughter survived – after he provided her with CPR – Mr Pike was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Pike’s death was the subject of a coronial inquest in 2019, in which Dr Kerry was called to give evidence.

The coroner has heard Ms Kyriacou, Mr Pike and another man had bought $150 worth of heroin and visited the Hindley St practice of Dr Kerry, where Ms Kyriacou worked as a phlebotomist

Dr Kerry told the coroner he found Mr Pike and his daughter, Ms Kyriacou unconscious and instinctively began CPR on her.

He said his “paternal instinct” kicked in.

“I went straight to my daughter,” he said.

“I didn’t know whether she was going to come out of it and I didn’t know whether Luke Pike would come out of it.”

Athena Kyriacou was revived by her dad Jack Kerry after a heroin overdose. Picture: Instagram

Athena Kyriacou. Picture: Instagram

He said Mr Pike was in a worse state than his daughter, but conceded that his condition was not a factor in his decision not to work on him.

“One look at him, I thought he’d had a cardiac arrest, thought he was dead,” he said.

“If Luke Pike had been the only man in that room … I would have been straight onto him straight away.”

State Coroner Mark Johns made no criticism of Dr Kerry for reviving his daughter.

Dr Kerry had already suffered through the tragic death of his son Christopher from a drug overdose eight years earlier.

In his death notice, Dr Kerry was remembered as a “loving father” to his children Jack, Athena and Christopher.

“So sadly missed by his loved ones and the wider community for which he cared for,” it read.

“In Loving Memory of his life’s work as a Doctor in Adelaide over 60 years.”

Garry Gebert posted an emotional tribute to his “doctor and friend” on Facebook.

“I will miss our talks Jack,” he wrote.

“Only saw you on Tuesday. God bless my friend, your patient and friend.”

Originally published as Doctor Jack Kerry dies aged 87, three years after a coronial inquest into the overdose of his daughter and her friend