A surgeon who spent four months of the pandemic separated from his family to work in Covid wards tragically died following his own nine-week fight against the virus.
Doctor Irfan Halim, a loving husband and devoted dad of four children all under the age of 12, was a talented surgeon at Swindon Hospital - having treated over 250,000 patients during his career.
Described by his heartbroken wife as "ten men in one body", Dr Halim left his young family for work on Friday, September 10, but never made it back home, Wales Online reports.
With a "broken heart shattered in pieces beyond imagination", Saila Halim said: "My beloved Irfan passed away on the Sunday, November 14 at 7.51pm peacefully whilst I held him in my arms whispering prayers and love into his ears along with his brother and sister surrounded by his beautiful friends."
Dr Halim had spent the past two years saving Covid patients and September 10 was just another day saving lives.
He was on a ward round wearing his scrubs and collapsed at his workplace having allegedly caught this disease from work.
Dr Halim was treated in Swindon Hospital ICU for two weeks before being transferred to The Royal Brompton in London to receive treatment on a special artificial lung (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation).
He fought hard to be with his children, the youngest of whom is five, every day.
A colleague said: "Being a fighter, he never gave up. He kept believing he would recover."
He didn't smoke or drink, a friend said, and was someone who just "helped people all the time".
In a heart-breaking post on social media, Mrs Halim said: "Irfan you gave me fifteen magical years as your wife, four beautiful children, wonderful memories that will last me until my remaining days in this world.
"You gave 25 dedicated years service to the NHS working as a Consultant General Surgeon.
"Please remember him in your prayers and duas and mountains of strength for his children for the pain of losing a wonderful, beloved father at such a tender age. Irfan you were not only my best friend but a best friend to all our children and so many others."
There has been an outpouring of grief among the medical community for the highly esteemed and widely respected surgeon, who worked for the NHS for 25 years.
With a speciality in laparoscopic surgery, he also carried out work at his private clinics and at Harley Street.
He held one of the highest volume practices in the UK, seeing approximately 300 new patients every month and personally performing over 1,200 procedures annually.
Hash Syed, a colleague who worked with Dr Halim earlier in the year building a new digital health platform, paid tribute to his friend and said: "I will cherish the fun we had building Entero at the Antler hub near Liverpool Street.
"Whether it be you riding around on your scooter, or our favourite burger bar. You were the definition of service to others, and believing in more. A man of many talents across being a doctor, a pilot and a lawyer.
"Most importantly, loving father and husband and great friend."
A GoFundMe page has been set up for Dr Halim's family and has already raised more than £50,000. Mrs Halim added: "He was the embodiment of ethics, unconditional friendship, a renaissance man of many skills, a scholar that has taught thousands.
"He was 10 men in one body."
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