CONJOINED TWIN TOM PASSES AWAY AFTER EMERGENCY SEPARATION IN SYDNEY; SAWONG SURVIVES | 8 December 2025

The story of Papua New Guinea’s conjoined twins, Tom and Sawong, reached a heartbreaking yet hopeful turning point yesterday at 1300hours following an emergency separation procedure at the Sydney Children’s Hospital.

Tom and Sawong preparing to go into emergency surgery at Sydney’s Children Hospital in Australia on Sunday.

After the twins were transferred from Paradise Private Hospital in Port Moresby to Sydney, specialists conducted advanced investigations that were not possible in PNG. These assessments confirmed the grim reality: baby Tom had very little chance of survival after separation.

Yesterday morning, the twins were rushed into an emergency operation. “Into the operating theatre went one body with two souls,” a message that captured the weight of the moment.

After seven hours of intricate and high-risk surgical procedures, surgeons achieved the impossible: two separate bodies. But only one survived.

Medical teams confirmed the tragic passing of baby Tom shortly after the operation. However, amidst the grief, there is profound relief as his brother Sawong survived the separation and is continuing to fight on.

Families, supporters, and the medical teams across PNG and Australia are being asked to continue praying as little Sawong remains under close care.