'Biko doctor' Lang dies

PORT ELIZABETH -- Former district surgeon Ivor Lang who, for the latter part of his life would always be known as one of the "Biko doctors", has died here aged 75.

Lang had suffered from a kidney disease for the past three years, his wife Chrisna said yesterday.

The international media spotlight fell on Lang and his colleague, Benjamin Tucker, following the death in police detention of black consciousness leader Steve Biko in 1977.

The two district surgeons treated Biko after he suffered severe head injuries while being held by the security police in Port Elizabeth.

At the inquest into Biko's death, Lang insis-ted that if the critically injured detainee had been "any other prisoner", he would have had him admitted to hospital for treatment.

But Lang said he had been prevented from doing this by the security police.

He said he had sleepless nights worrying about "why Mr Biko died". -- DDC