AN NHS doctor who spent months away from his family to save lives during the the pandemic has died with Covid.
Irfan Halim has been remembered as a devoted father-of-four who worked tirelessly through out his 25-year career treating more than 250,000 patients.
A devastated Salia Halim said her partner went to work at Swindon Hospital on September 10 and never came home.
Salia announced with a “broken heart shattered in pieces beyond imagination” that her husband had passed away after a nine-week battle with Covid.
She 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.”
The doctor had been on the frontline of the Covid battle since its outbreak in 2020, and September 10 was just another day saving lives.
The Wales Online reported that 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).
A colleague said: “Being a fighter, he never gave up. He kept believing he would recover.”
A friend said that Dr Halim didn’t smoke or drink and was someone who just “helped people all the time”.
They also said he fought hard to be with his children, the youngest of whom is five, every day, and had dedicated 25 years his work in the NHS.
In a heartbreaking post on social media, Mrs Halim said: “Irfan you gave me 15 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.”
The medical community has been sharing their grief over the loss of the widely respected surgeon.
He held one of the highest volume practices in the UK, seeing approximately 300 new patients every month and performed over 1,200 procedures annually.
Hash Syed, a colleague who worked with Dr Halim building a new digital health platform, paid tribute: “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. “
Mrs Halim also said: “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.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up for Dr Halim’s family and has already raised more than £50,000.
