German Tourist Experiences Malaysian Hospitality After Snatch Thieves Steal His 'Heart'
German couple Udo Wieland and Ulrike Wieland got a taste of the worst and best of Malaysia after they became victims of snatch thieves while sightseeing in Malacca.
By Mei Mei Chu — 06 Jan 2014, 06:39 PM — Updated over 10 years ago
It's Visit Malaysia Year 2014 But German Tourists Udo Wieland, 63, And Ulrike Wieland, 60, Did Not Receive A Warm Welcome
A German national lost his “heart” in Malacca – but there was nothing romantic about it.
Udo Wieland, 63, who survives on an external mechanical heart, had his spare mechanical heart controller and batteries stolen by snatch thieves.
thestar.com.my
While Touring Malacca, Snatch Thieves Stole The German Man's External Mechanical Heart's Spare Controller And Batteries
Udo Wieland, 63, who survives on an external mechanical heart, had his spare mechanical heart controller and batteries stolen by snatch thieves.
His Wife Was Walking To A Restaurant With The Life Saving Device In Her Handbag When Two Thieves On A Motorcycle Snatched Her Handbag
His wife Ulrike Wieland, 60, had been carrying the device in her handbag when it was snatched by the two thieves on a motorcycle on Saturday night.
“We were heading to a restaurant for dinner and I was walking about one metre in front of my wife.
“I suddenly heard her scream, and when I turned around she was lying on the ground, crying – I thought she had been hit by a car,” said Wieland, a retired insurance firm director, when met at the National Heart Institute (IJN) yesterday.
Ulrike escaped with a cut on her elbow, but lost her wallet and mobile phone which were in the bag.
thestar.com.myTheir Immediate Worry Was To Replace The Mechanical Heart Device Which Could Cost Up To RM150,000
Their immediate worry, however, was to replace the mechanical heart device.
thestar.com.myThe Device Would Be Useless To The Thieves, But Could Cause Great Harm To The Patient Who Lost It
Consultant cardiothoracic surgeon Datuk Dr Mohamed Ezani Md Taib said the stolen device, which could cost up to RM150,000, would be useless to the thieves but could cause great harm to the patient who lost it.
thestar.com.my“As long as the primary device is working well, there is no problem. But if there is a malfunction, it can stop working immediately.
“That is why patients always need to carry a spare controller and batteries with them,” he said, adding that there were about 20 people surviving on external mechanical hearts in Malaysia.
thestar.com.my"When the VAT battery is out of power, the heart patient will face the risk of death since his heart cannot function without the pumping device.
bernama.com.my
After Lodging A Police Report, The Couple Rushed To Institute Negara Jantung (IJN) In KL And Was Immediately Given A Replacement Device For Free
The Couple Rushed To Institute Negara Jantung (IJN) In KL And Was Immediately Given A Replacement Device For Free
Image via bernama.comAfter the incident, Wieland called the VAS headquarters in the United States to inform that he had lost the VAS controller and spare battery and was told IJN in Kuala Lumpur had the facilities for such a system.
bernama.com.my
The couple lodged a report at the Malacca Tengah police station before calling the device supplier to find out where they could get an immediate replacement. The couple rushed to IJN yesterday and got the stolen device replaced for free as they were covered by insurance during their maiden visit to Malaysia.
IJN's cardiothoracic and heart/lung transplant surgeon, Prof Datuk Dr Mohamed Ezani Md Taib handed over the new controller and battery to Wieland.
bernama.com.my
Udo Wieland Says He Was Touched That IJN Staff Were Willing To Help Him Even Though It Was A Weekend
"This morning, we took a bus from Malacca to IJN and now I am happy to get the new VAS controller and battery," he told reporters when met at IJN's International Patient Centre, here, Sunday. The German, a retired insurance company director, said he was glad that IJN could save his heart, and felt so touched that IJN staff were willing to assist him despite today being a weekend.
bernama.com.my
Wieland who plans to stay in Malaysia longer and make Malaysia his second home when it is winter in Germany, said he arrived in Malacca on Thursday from Singapore.
bernama.com.my
Udo Wieland Says He Was Touched That IJN Staff Were Willing To Help Him Even Though It Was A Weekend
Image via thestar.com.myDr Mohamed Ezani Advises Those Who Found The Device To Return It To The Nearest Clinic Or Hospital As It Is Only For Heart Patients
Dr Mohamed Ezani also appealed to the public who found the VAS controller and battery to return the device to the nearest clinic or hospital, or police station as the device is only for heart patients.
bernama.com.my
Dr Mohamed Ezani said he received a call from HeartWare, the VAS headquarters at midnight informing him that a heart patient in Malacca needed a controller and battery.
"I told them to ask the patient to come to IJN as soon as possible so that the patient could get the replacement," he said.
bernama.com.my