A doctor spent nearly two years tirelessly saving patients who fell victim to the coronavirus; however, he ultimately succumbed to the virus himself. Surgeon Irfan Halim remained away from his family for a continuous 4 months during the peak of the pandemic that swept the world, in order to protect them while also saving patients.
The doctor collapsed on September 20 while on duty at Swindon Hospital in Wiltshire, southwestern England, where he was found to have contracted COVID-19, as reported by the British network Sky News, citing his wife, Sila, on Saturday. The late doctor had joined this hospital only two months before contracting the virus, working in the intensive care department.
His wife added that the day he became infected was "just another day saving the lives of others." Since then, the doctor’s condition significantly worsened; after spending two days in the same hospital's intensive care unit, he was transferred to Royal Brompton Hospital in London, which specializes in treating severe heart and lung conditions.
The doctor was placed on an advanced machine that took over the functions of the heart and lungs, a device used for COVID-19 patients who cannot breathe even with traditional ventilators. Later, he was returned home, where he died after a 9-week battle against the disease.
The late doctor was described as wonderful and talented, always ready to help others. The British newspaper The Guardian reported that he was a consultant in general surgery and had spent around 25 years in the medical field. Irfan Halim was the sole breadwinner for his family, prompting his loved ones and friends to quickly set up a fundraising page for the family, which successfully raised £98,000 (approximately $111,000).
