Dr. Michael Yung: Top surgeon fights for his life after being viciously bashed by thugs during terrifying home invasion

A highly respected surgeon fights for his life in hospital after being attacked in his own home by a gang of thugs.

Dr. Michael Yung – a former pediatric intensive care specialist – was violently attacked by multiple assailants who broke into his home on James St in Gilberton, Adelaide, at around 4.20am on Monday.

The 62-year-old was rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital where he was placed in an induced coma after emergency surgery.

The former head of the pediatric intensive care unit at the Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide has been praised by South Australian Health Minister Chris Picton for coming to the aid of some of the state's “sickest children”.

Police have declared the incident a serious crime and launched a large-scale manhunt for the gang of 'multiple attackers'.

The investigation is now focusing on a spate of burglaries at nearby homes in the hours and days before.

CCTV footage from homes in neighboring suburbs shows five young people roaming the streets of Dutton Terrace and Medinde, some of Adelaide's most affluent suburbs, trying to break into mansions.

Footage from another house taken just before the attack shows five people in tracksuits walking down the street before trying to break into the house.

One of the thugs, wearing gloves and what appears to be a Gucci bag, tries to unlock the front door before calmly walking away.

It is unclear whether the group trying to break into the house is connected to the attack on Dr. Yung.

Three Gilberton residents, who wished to remain anonymous, spoke The advertiser that they had recently been victims of burglaries.

One reported that police were patrolling the area more often at night, while another said she had to install CCTV cameras after thieves jumped her fence and stole a bicycle.

Dr. Yung was rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital early Monday morning, where he underwent emergency surgery and was placed in an induced coma (photo, police on scene)

Patrol officers and detectives from the Major Crime and Eastern District units are all assisting with investigations, while specialist forensic officers examine the scene.

Anyone with dashcam footage of the area or information about the incident between 3.30am and 5am is asked to contact police.

Dr Yang's 30-year-old son, who lives in the house, was found unharmed and is not being treated as a suspect.

Other members of the doctor's family, including a second son, are now traveling interstate to be by his side.

A colleague of Dr Yang, who now works as a senior consultant in the emergency department at the Women's and Children's Hospital, said the team was “devastated” by the attack.

“It's incomprehensible… With all our easy lives, this is just terrible,” said a close friend.

“It's hard to describe how much we admired and still admire Michael.”

South Australia Police have declared the incident a major crime and launched a large-scale manhunt for the gang (pictured, specialist forensic officers on scene)

Minister Picton said the incident is an opportunity for the state to thank Dr. Yang and his family in return for his continued work in pediatrics.

“This is an incredibly sad day for the entire Women's and Children's Hospital and SA Health family,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

'Dr. Michael Yung has been there for so many South Australian children and families in their darkest times.

“Over the past few years, I have witnessed Michael's incredible intellect and compassion – completely committed to caring for our state's children.

'My thoughts are with him and his family, friends and colleagues at this terrible time.'

The incident comes just three years after his wife, Kathryn Browne-Yung, a health policy expert, died suddenly in her sleep in March 2020.

Shortly after her death, Dr. created Yung a $5,000 scholarship to support indigenous medical students in the name of his “kind, thoughtful and intelligent” wife.