A doctor who died of coronavirus while helping others battle infection has been described as a “tower of strength” by friends. The death of Dr Irfan Halim came after a nine-week battle with the virus, which he contracted only two months after he joined the Covid intensive care unit wards at Swindon hospital. It is believed he contracted Covid at his place of work and collapsed during a shift on 10 September. He was in intensive care in Swindon before being transferred to the Royal Brompton hospital, where he received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment. Halim was a consultant general surgeon who worked across a variety of practices during his 25-year medical career. He specialised in laparoscopic surgery and spent time working on Harley Street. His death occurred shortly after that of his father, Kamal, who also died from Covid, close friends of the family said. Siân Hughes-Pollitt, a family friend who met the doctor through a school fencing club, told the Evening Standard Halim’s death had left “an enormous gap in many places and spaces”. She said he would frequently commute for more than two hours from his home in Barking to Swindon to treat patients. “Irfan had a kind word for everybody,” she said. “It is so difficult to accept that a man who took every medical and clinical precaution against Covid died of the disease.” She added: “When I picture him now, I see him standing beside his wife and family – a tower of strength. He is the husband, the dad, the best friend. I see him living through his wife and children.” Hughes-Pollitt said she had spoken to Halim’s wife, Saila, hours after she watched her husband pass away in intensive care. “She was broken … The first thing she told me was: ‘He went out to work and he never came home. It was the longest shift.’ A GoFundMe page has been set up for Halim, already raising more than £80,000. The money will be used to help support Saila and her family. The page reads: “We have set up this fund as close friends and family to ease the burden of losing Irfan. Irfan was the sole breadwinner for his family.” His wife wrote: “Irfan went to work on Friday 10 September at Swindon hospital. He had spent the past two years saving Covid patients and Friday 10 September was just another day saving lives. He was on a ward round wearing his scrubs and collapsed at his workplace having caught this disease from work. “Irfan stayed in Swindon until the 23 September in ICU and was then transferred to the Royal Brompton to receive treatment on ECMO. He fought hard to be with his children every day. With a broken heart shattered in pieces beyond imagination I muster what little strength I have to write this message.” She said her husband gave her “15 magical years” of marriage and four beautiful children. “Irfan you were not only my best friend but a best friend to all our children and so many others,” she wrote.