First Human Heart Transplant — December 3, 1967 On December 3, 1967, the world witnessed a medical breakthrough that changed modern science forever. At Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, Dr. Christiaan Barnard and his surgical team performed the world’s first human heart transplant, a moment that shocked the world and redefined the limits of medicine. The patient, Louis Washkansky, was suffering from end-stage heart failure. His donor, Denise Darvall, tragically lost her life in an accident, y

39K views · 633 reactions | #OnThisDay 1967: Dr Christiaan Barnard completed the first successful human heart transplant in South Africa. He is lauded as a pioneer today but Barnard faced his fair share of criticism in the 1960s. | BBC Archive | Facebook