Covid: Family devastated by Swindon doctor's death - BBC News

The brother of a doctor who died after contracting Covid-19 said he "touched a lot of lives" helping people.

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 having not learned of his own father's death with Covid in September.

Amir Halim told the BBC he would make sure his brother's children knew "what an amazing person he was".

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.

Amir Halim said his family have been "shocked and devastated" by the loss.

When Dr Irfan Halim was on the hospital's intensive care unit, his primary focus was his dad, Dr Kamal Halim, who later died without him knowing, he said.

Dr Irfan Halim was put on a ventilator and transferred to the Royal Brompton Hospital in London where he stayed for nine weeks before he died on 14 November.

"He touched a lot of lives. He had the abilities to help a lot of people in so many different ways," Amir Halim said.

With Covid cases rising daily, Amir Halim warned about how "we don't know who it's going to affect and how badly.

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