Much-loved Essex doctor dies of suspected coronavirus

A GP from Essex is believed to be the first doctor in the UK to die from suspected coronavirus after showing “textbook symptoms”.

Dr Habib Zaidi, 76, died in intensive care at Southend Hospital, 24 hours after being taken ill on Tuesday. 

His daughter Dr Sarah Zaidi, also a GP, said he showed “textbook symptoms” of the virus and he sacrificed his life for his profession.

If the test results confirm he had Covid-19, he would be the first doctor in the UK to die after contracting the virus.

Dr Zaidi, a GP in Leigh-on-Sea for more than 45 years, had been self-isolating and had not seen patients in person for about a week.

His wife and four children also work in the medical profession.

Dr Sarah Zaidi told the BBC: “For that to be the thing that took him is too much to bear. It is reflective of his sacrifice. He had a vocational attitude to service.”

“He was treated as a definitive case. There is little clinical doubt it is coronavirus, the test result is academic.”

She added: “We can’t mourn in the normal way. We can’t have a normal funeral.”

“He left a gaping hole in our hearts, but a loss that is also felt within the community that he devoted almost his entire life to.”

“We are praying for the safety of everyone right now.”

Leader of Southend Council, Ian Gilbert, said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dr Zaidi. Dr Zaidi and his family are well known and well loved within the community.”

Patients and staff have been paying tribute to a “well respected and loved GP” on social media.

On Facebook, one patient said: “A kinder more caring gentleman, doctor and friend you would be hard to find.”

Two years ago Dr Zaidi won an excellence award from the NHS Southend Clinical Commissioning Group, which described him as a “legend” who was “highly revered by staff and patients alike”.

Dr Zaidi’s widow has gone into quarantine away from the rest of the family.

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