Coronavirus: 'Superhuman' GP who served patients for decades dies of COVID-19
Dr Karamat Ullah Mirza carried on treating people until only a fortnight before he died.
Thursday 14 May 2020 19:17, UK
Hundreds of people have lined the streets of a seaside town to pay their respects to a "superhuman" GP who died of COVID-19 after decades serving his community.
Dr Karamat Ullah Mirza continued seeing patients in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, until just a fortnight before his death on Sunday.
The 84-year-old, who came to the UK in 1966, had "enormous determination", his wife Estelle Mirza said.
The couple were married for 48 years. "He would fight to the end of the earth for his patients and was so dedicated to them," Mrs Mirza said.
The funeral procession passed the Old Road Medical Practice where he worked.
Dr Mirza, who was brought up in a family of doctors in his native Pakistan, had lived and worked in Clacton since 1974.
"He was superhuman," his wife told Sky News. "Someone who came from a completely different culture, but embraced the English culture wholly. I've never met anyone to equal this man."
Mrs Mirza, who also worked at the medical practice, said her husband had been aware of the dangers of COVID-19.
She said: "He was taking the precautions and he was being careful, but he would say, 'I can't leave my patients at this time, I need to be there for them'."
Mrs Mirza continued: "He wasn't a negative man. He wanted to think positively about everything. I never thought it would get him, because he's cheated death so many times.
"I had a faith that it wouldn't touch him. We were doing all the things we were told to do, but he wouldn't have accepted not working. He was a man with enormous determination."
Also speaking to Sky News on the day of Dr Mirza's funeral, his grandson Joseph said: "I was hugely worried when I found out he became ill.
"I had faith he would pull through. But now he leaves an amazing legacy and I'm so proud of him. He's one of my role models.
"He had sheer will to look after his patients, and a love for everyone he met."
NHS England has recommended health trusts assess black, Asian and ethnic minority (BAME) workers as "at potentially greater risk" from coronavirus.
Last month, Sky News analysis found that nearly three quarters of all NHS and social care staff who had died with coronavirus were from a BAME background.