Surgeons save one of two conjoined twins after mercy flight from Papua New Guinea

An Aussie push to separate conjoined twins from a remote village in Papua New Guinea has ended with sad news that both could not be saved after a marathon effort from surgeons.

Rare conjoined twins Sawong and Tom were urgently flown to Sydney last week to undergo surgery at Sydney Childrens Hospital. Pic: Supplied

A desperate mission to save conjoined twins from remote Papua New Guinea has ended in tragedy, with one of the boys dying after complex surgery in Sydney.

Tom and Sawong, born nearly two months ago in a remote highlands village, were urgently flown to Australia after doctors warned they needed to be separated as soon as possible.

Over several weeks, an international effort was pulled together to move the critically ill infants to the Sydney Children’s Hospital network.

As Tom’s condition deteriorated late last week, the twins were flown to Australia and taken straight into specialist care.

Surgeons performed a marathon seven-hour operation on Sunday to separate the boys.

The hospital confirmed on Monday that Tom died following the surgery.

Sawong survived the surgery, Tom was unable to be saved. Picture: Supplied

Sawong survived and remains in intensive care, where doctors are continuing to monitor him closely.

On Monday, Radio New Zealand quoted family spokesman Jurgen Ruh, who said the family had “accepted that they will lose Tom and there’s been many tears shed along the way”.

Sawong is being monitored in intensive care, Tom was unable to be saved. Picture: Supplied

“one body with two souls went into the operating theatre, and after seven hours of procedures we had two bodies and two souls,” Ruh said.

“Sadly we lost Tom but are happy to report that we still have two souls and Sawong has survived the operation.”

The twins took a mercy flight to Sydney for surgery. Picture: Supplied

The twins were joined at the lower abdomen and shared a liver and parts of their gastrointestinal tract.

Tom was the smaller twin and also had a congenital heart defect and just one kidney.

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape said Australia had acted swiftly once PNG sought help.

“Based on our assurance, the Australian government was able to facilitate the quick transfer to hospital,” he told reporters, adding PNG had received “assurance that the medical bills” would be covered.

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Originally published as Surgeons save one of two conjoined twins after mercy flight from Papua New Guinea