Southmead Hospital's top boss has paid tribute to a 'courage' doctor who died saving lives during the pandemic.
Dr Gamal Osman, aged 63, treated hundreds of Covid patients at the North Bristol Trust, but caught the virus himself, and died on Thursday (January 28) - just three week before the vaccine was set to be rolled out to his ward.
The dad-of-seven lost his brother to the virus in September last year, when his friends and family urged him to reduce his hours working on the frontline - and putting his own health at risk.
However, the heroic doctor told colleagues “this isn’t a time for cowards” and continued to work.
A fundraiser set up by his colleagues to help his family has raised more than £70,000 in 24 hours.
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Evelyn Barker, Chief Executive at North Bristol NHS Trust, paid tribute to the consultant, who was 'always smiling and kind to everyone' on Friday evening.
She said: “I would like to personally express my condolences to Gamal’s family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time.
"The emotional impact of the events of this past year has been huge on all our NHS staff, and the loss of one of our NBT family at this time is very upsetting for us all.
"The commitment Gamal showed to providing exceptional care to our patients, particularly over the last very challenging year is highly honourable.
"His courage in the face of the pandemic has saved lives, and he will always be remembered.”
Dr Osman was a leading member of the Acute Medical Team, a spokesperson for this unit said they were all heartbroken.
They said: "We are all aware that COVID poses a higher risk to BAME and older patients. In his early sixties, Gamal was well aware of this risk, particularly as he lost his brother to COVID in September 2020.
"Despite this tragedy, many conversations with friends, colleagues and relatives trying to persuade him to minimise his risk and despite his awareness of the risk involved, he was committed to continuing to care for acutely unwell patients with COVID.
"Tragically he contracted COVID-19 three weeks prior to the introduction of the COVID vaccine to frontline staff. His passing is devastating to all of his colleagues”.
Dr Osman had spent weeks battling the virus in intensive care, before passing away yesterday.
His Gofundme reads: “His passing is devastating to all of his colleagues, but even more so to his wife and seven children who now have to deal with both the trauma of bereavement and with the financial burden it now places on them."
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To find out more about Dr Osman and donate to the fundraising page for his family, click here.
A second fundraising page, set up by members of his family, is raising money for his funeral costs - it's here.
