A father-of seven doctor has died from Covid-19 after telling his colleagues: ‘This isn’t a time for cowards’.
Dr Gamal Osman, 63, was one of the leaders of the team treating hundreds of Covid patients at Southmead Hospital in North Bristol, but contracted the virus himself and passed away yesterday following a lengthy battle in intensive care.
Colleagues said he lost his brother to Covid last September, but despite many friends, colleagues and relatives trying to persuade him to transfer to a different department, he chose to go back into the Covid wards at Southmead.
A tribute to Dr Osman posted by those who worked alongside him in the fight against coronavirus described him as ‘generous, calm and an extremely popular member of the Acute Medical Team’.
A fundraiser set up by his colleagues to help his wife Manal, 45, and seven children has raised more than £47,000 in less than 24 hours, with those behind the appeal saying they are amazed at the response.