Keith Sutherns was a consultant surgeon in Aberystwyth. He was born in the Welsh town on 30 March 1945. His father, John Leslie Sutherns, was a schoolmaster. His mother was Margaret Myfanwy née Jones. He was educated at Llanelli Boys' Grammar School and the London Hospital, where he was house surgeon and house physician. While a junior registrar to John Blandy, he wrote a paper on prevention of infection after prostatectomy by continuous irrigation. After further registrar positions in Luton, Dunstable (with Laurie Plewis) and at Chelmsford, he returned to Wales as senior registrar on the rotation between Cardiff and the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport. He was appointed consultant surgeon at Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth, in 1978. He retired due to ill health in 1994. His main interests outside his professional life were fishing and books: he was an avid reader and belonged to four book clubs. He was also medical officer to the Aberystwyth Rugby Club. His wife Christine, whom he married in 1968, was a nurse at the London Hospital. They had two daughters, Ruth Clarke and Rachel Jayne. He died on 31 January 2000 with a book in his hands.