An Ordinary Man, An Extraordinary Life

After suffering serious burns to his hands that would later require surgery, Malcolm Linsell set his heart on becoming a plastic surgeon at an early age so that he too could make a difference and inspire others.
Raised in a Salvation Army family in a modest environment of love, compassion and trust, in 1993 Malcolm Linsell was introduced to Wesley Koni, a young boy from the highlands of Papua New Guinea. Wesley was brought to Australia for life-saving medical treatment after suffering horrific, disfiguring burns when he fell into a fire.

More than two decades later Malcolm Linsell accompanied Wesley Koni and a 60 Minutes team as Wesley returned to Papua New Guinea to be reunited with his family for the first time in 22 years. Dr Malcom Linsell’s life is an inspirational story of persistence and resilience. Overcoming his own financial difficulties, divorce and major health challenges, Linsell shares the lessons he has learned along the way as a practitioner of the ‘surgery of self-esteem’.