UK coronavirus – GP, 76, feared to be first British doctor to die after contracting bug

A GP is feared to be the first British doctor to die after contracting coronavirus.

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

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Tests have not yet confirmed that he died of Covid-19 but his daughter, Dr Sarah Zaidi, also a GP, said he showed textbook symptoms of the virus.

She told the : "For that to be the thing that took him is too much to bear.

"It is reflective of his sacrifice."

"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."

'WELL RESPECTED AND LOVED'

Dr Zaidi, who was still practising as a GP in Leigh-on-Sea, had reportedly been self-isolating and had not seen patients in person for about a week.

It is thought, however, that Covid-19 can have an incubation period of up to 12 days - meaning Dr Zaidi could have been infectious long before he started to display symptoms.

The respected doctor was a managing partner of Eastwood Group Practice with his wife Dr Talat Zaidi.

All four of his children also work in the medical profession - his son is a haematologist consultant and his daughters are a trainee surgeon, a dentist and a GP.

Paying tribute, 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."

Taking to social media, patients and staff at the surgery described Dr Zaidi as a "well respected and loved GP".

On Facebook, one patient wrote: "A kinder more caring gentleman, doctor and friend you would be hard to find.";

Two years ago, he was described as a "legend" who was "highly revered by staff and patients alike," when the NHS Southend Clinical Commissioning Group presented him with an excellence award.

Dr Zaidi's widow is said to have gone into quarantine away from the rest of the family.

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