Fiona Coote

Fiona Gay Coote (born 3rd January 1970 in Manilla, New South Wales) became the second and youngest person in Australia to undergo a heart transplant. The procedure was performed by notable Chinese-Australian cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr Victor Chang and was successfully carried out on 24 February 1984 when Fiona was 14 years of age. The urgent transplant was needed due to a diagnosis of viral-induced tonsilitis that significantly weakened her heart.

Additional recommended knowledge

How to quickly check pipettes?

Daily Visual Balance Check

How to ensure accurate weighing results every day?

Fiona underwent her first surgery in St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney. When she began rejecting that heart, she was forced to endure a second heart transplant, which took place in January 1986.

Years later, after being diagnosed with the heart disease cardiomyopathy, she successfully survived a third heart transplantation, which was performed at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital.

She later worked as a reporter for the Ten Network, and has enjoyed good health since.