An award-winning GP is feared to be the first UK doctor to die from the coronavirus.
Dr Habib Zaidi, 76, died on Wednesday after being taken ill the previous day.
He had been self-isolating and hadn't seen patients in person for a week before his death.
Tests have yet to confirm whether he had Covid-19, but his daughter said he had "textbook symptoms".
His daughter, Dr Sarah Zaidi, said: "For that to be the thing that took him is too much to bear.
"It is reflective of his sacrifice."
She said he was treated as a "definitive case", and said there was little doubt he had coronavirus.
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In a statement released this morning, his family said: "For him to be snatched from us in this way, in these desperately troubling times for the whole world, has left us truly heartbroken.
"Dr Habib Zaidi was devoted in the most altruistic way to the service of his patients and a local community,
"For 49 years, he served three generations of tens of thousands of families living in the town of Southend.
"His generosity and kindness knew no limits. A dear colleague described him as the father of the medical community. That makes us so proud to hear."
The family statement added that Dr Zaidi was given the lifetime achievement award of "unsung hero" last year by the local Southend healthcare system.
His family said: "That pretty much describes in a nutshell his nearly five decades of devoted service as a GP.
"Not only did he serve his patients, working tirelessly for them, but he never stopped driving to innovate, continually develop, and drive up quality.
"That very much continued to drive him until the very end.
"We are overwhelmed, touched, and comforted by the many kind tributes we have received.
"The name Habib means beloved, and beloved he truly was.
"We know that, not only has he left a gaping hole in our hearts, but a loss that is felt within the community that he devoted almost his entire life to.
"We are praying for the safety of everyone right now."
Emotional tributes have been paid to the popular GP, who had worked in Leigh-on-Sea for more than 45 years.
He was managing partner of Eastwood Group Practice with his wife Dr Talat Zaidi.
Ian Gilbert, leader of Southend Council, 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."
Some of Dr Zaidi's emotional patients have paid tribute to a "wonderful" and "kind" man - whom some of them had known for many years.
One woman, Iris, had been seeing the GP since he first came to the UK from Pakistan almost 50 years ago.
Iris broke down in tears as she told BBC Essex: "I can't believe that he's gone. He was so lovely, so kind to everybody.
"I remember the last time I saw him, which was two weeks ago, just before all this, and he said to me "Keep strong".
"And I always used to kiss the top of his head, and I said, "Please take care". That's the last time I remember him in the surgery.
"I knew him for 50-odd years. I knew him when he came round here as a young man and took over.
"He'd just come over from Pakistan, he was only in about his 30s or 40s.
"It's so sad. His wife and children, they're such a wonderful family."
Meanwhile Julie wrote on Twitter: "Dr Habib Zaidi was my GP. A lovely man always willing to listen.
"My heart goes out to his family. RIP Sir."
And a former patient wrote: "A kinder more caring gentleman, doctor and friend you would be hard to find."
Yesterday officials confirmed that 133 people had died in the previous 24 hours after contracting coronavirus.
The deadly pandemic has now killed a total of 578 in Britain since the first known cases in January, while 11,658 have tested positive with Covid-19.
This comes as figures show 4,300 beds in NHS hospitals have already been taken by virus patients as doctors, nurses and other medical staff work round the clock.
