'Selfless' doctor who treated elderly patients at Kingston Hospital dies after contracting coronavirus

A "selfless" doctor who specialised in treating the elderly has died just days after his last shift after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Anton Sebastianpillai, who had a long association with Kingston Hospital in south-west London, died on Saturday, four days after being admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit, a spokeswoman said.

The consultant geriatrician, who qualified as a doctor in Sri Lanka in 1967, finished his last shift on March 20.

A spokeswoman for Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “It is with great sadness that I confirm the death of a consultant geriatrician who was part of the team at Kingston Hospital.

“Dr Anton Sebastianpillai died on Saturday having been cared for in the hospital’s intensive care unit since March 31.

“We would like to extend our sincere condolences to his family.”

In an obituary notice Dr Sebastianpillai was described as a “distinguished alumnus”.

Dr Thusiyan Nandakumar, from Kingston College London, took to Twitter to express his condolences.

He said: "Another healthcare worker dies on the frontline.

"Dr Sebastianpillai put himself at risk to help save others. A remarkably courageous and selfless role model."

The news comes after a British Pakistani GP based in east London died in hospital on Monday after it is believed he developed coronavirus symptoms.

According to The News International, a newspaper in Pakistan, Dr Syed Haider had been receiving treatment at Queen’s Hospital in Romford where he passed away.

A staff member at the Valence Medical Centre in Dagenham, east London – where Dr Haider worked, confirmed he had died.

The News International said it had spoken to his son, named only as Dr Kumail, who described his father as “a selfless man driven by his passion for his profession”.

Dr Kumail said: “Even whilst in hospital breathing his last, he was urging doctors and nurses to pay attention to other patients rather than him.

“Many at his age would have retired yet his dedication to his profession was immeasurable.”