A Muslim NHS doctor, who has been selfless in treating Covid patients over the past two years, has died of the virus, aged 45.
Tributes flooded in for Dr. Irfan Halim, a father of four, who collapsed in September on a shift in the Covid intensive care unit ward at Swindon Hospital.
“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,” said his widow Saila.
A fundraising page has been set up for his wife and children, which has smashed its original target of £100k.
“This fund has been set up for the wife and children of Dr Irfan Halim, a wonderful talented and incredible NHS Doctor who worked hard to help others. Irfan was dearly loved and touched so many people’s lives,” said the GoFundMe page.
Saila, his wife, wrote on the page: ” With a broken heart shattered in pieces beyond imagination I muster what little strength I have to write this message.”
“My beloved Irfan passed away on the Sunday 14th November at 7:51pm peacefully whilst I held him in my arms whispering prayers and love into his ears along with his family.”
“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.”
Dr Halim spent four months away from his family at the height of the pandemic, working in the Covid wards.
After contracting the virus, he was transferred to the Royal Brompton Hospital where he received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment – an artificial lung that pumps oxygen back into the body’s blood tissue.
He was in intensive care for nine weeks before he passed away.
Image source: GoFundMe
