Surgeon Dr Irfan Halim switched to working on the frontline when the pandemic hit.
Image source, GoFundMe
The brother of a doctor who died after contracting Covid-19 has said his family have been “shocked and devastated” by the loss.
Dr Irfan Halim, 45, from Swindon’s Great Western Hospital, was taken ill on 10 September after collapsing on a coronavirus ward where he was working.
The father-of-four died nine weeks later at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London.
His father Dr Kamal Halim also died with Covid in September.
Dr Irfan Halim had dedicated 25 years of work to the NHS as a surgeon, but when the coronavirus pandemic hit he switched to working on the frontline.
Paying tribute to his brother, Amir Halim told the BBC’s Today programme: “He was always very happy, very energetic. Until the day he passed a week ago he was exactly the same.
“We hoped that he would recover and given his age, he was a fit and well young man. I think that’s partly why we are so shocked and devastated.
“Until the day we were informed of the impending news, we had always hoped that he would pull through.”
He described how his brother “suddenly deteriorated” and, being a medical doctor himself, he knew “nothing else could be done at that stage”.
“We have struggled at times. Saying it’s been the worst two months of my life is simply an understatement,” he added.
“I will make sure his two sons and his two daughters grow up knowing what an amazing person their father was.”
With Covid cases rising daily, he warned about how “we don’t know who it’s going to affect and how badly”.
“This virus doesn’t care if you are a gifted individual, it doesn’t care if you are rich or poor and it will continue to affect lives unless we take necessary actions, which include getting your vaccinations, getting your boosters – limiting unnecessary contacts.
“There are people who have managed to get out of this infection unscathed and managed to have a very mild infection, but eventually it’s going to affect someone you love in a very bad way.”
Swindon health officials have sent their condolences to the family.
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