Heart surgery pioneer dies Jen Kelly July 28, 2004
A MELBOURNE grandfather who was the second person in the world to receive a new-generation artificial heart has died.
Henry Nathan, 76, died on Sunday, but the artificial heart gave him almost an extra year of active life he never expected.
Mr Nathan was on the brink of death with severe heart failure when the VentrAssist artificial heart was implanted at the Alfred hospital last August. Given a new lease of life, the self-proclaimed bowling legend was back on the greens within weeks.
Professor Don Esmore said yesterday his death followed a recent relapse from a previous stroke.
"We believe the VentrAssist system helped extend his life by nearly 12 months and gave him back a good quality of life for the majority of this time," said Professor Esmore, head of the Alfred's heart-lung transplant service.
"This patient made a significant contribution to medical science. His selfless demeanour was an inspiration. There is no denying his contribution."
Mr Nathan first had open-heart surgery in 1983. He founded Heartbeat Victoria, a support group of cardiac patients, in 1984 and received an Order of Australia for his services to the organisation.
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