On this day, 1967, Louis Washkansky, a 53-year-old man, received the very first human heart transplant in South Africa. Washkansky had a chronic heart disease and was dying fast. He received the heart from a 25-year-old woman who passed away in a car accident. After the operation Washkansky was given anti-rejection medications but unfortunately passed away only 18 days later after contractive double pneumonia.

Information found on History.com