Fire victim denies running backyard dental surgery
South Australian Police are appealing for information after evidence of a backyard dental surgery was allegedly uncovered at a suburban Adelaide property.
Deepak Gokhool’s wife was critically injured on Tuesday night when a fire broke out in the couple’s Hectorville home.
Evidence of a backyard dental set-up was allegedly found at the property and police are investigating.
Mr Gohool denies he has been treating patients.
“No way I been operating here,” he said.
“I came here from a poor country and whatever I earn here, and I see stuff on eBay, so I like to buy this stuff because dentistry has been my passion.”
Mr Gokhool and his wife Hema moved to Adelaide three years ago from Mauritius, where he said he was a registered dentist.
He one day hopes to one day have enough money to gain Australian qualifications.
“Even people have asked me, I say ‘sorry, I can’t do that’,” he said.
“I work as a dental technician so I get models and bits and pieces from work.”
It has prompted a general warning from the Australia Dental Association.
“You go in for a cheap extraction and you come out with a life-long disease like Hepatitis C or HIV, it could be a very big mistake in your life,” Dr Jack Gaffey from the Australian Dental Association said.
Mr Gokhool said he will fight any accusations, but he said his top priority is the health of his 23-year-old wife who is still in a critical condition in hospital.
He is also hoping to salvage what possessions he can from the burnt remains of the home because the couple is not insured.
