LAST UPDATE | 22 Jul 2020

THE DAUGHTER OF a hospital doctor who died following a battle with Covid-19 has hailed his selfless dedication to his profession.

Dr Syed Waqqar Ali (59) lived in Tyrrelstown, Co Dublin with his wife and five children, three boys and two girls.

The Mater Hospital, where Dr Ali worked, confirmed today that he passed away after spending three months in ICU following his Covid-19 diagnosis.

Dr Ali was a frontline healthcare worker who “provided selfless emergency care to Covid 19 patients at a number of hospitals as a locum during this emergency pandemic”, the hospital said.

He was the eighth health care worker who has died with Covid-19.

His daughter, Dr Samar Fatima Ali, said: “He has been incredibly dedicated to his profession and he lost his life to his profession.”

She told RTÉ News that her father had been selfless. “There are no words for the battle he fought every day,” she said. 

“He’s been an outstanding doctor and the best dad we could have asked for… It was very difficult to see our father in so much pain.” 

The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, said he was “deeply saddened” to hear of the doctor’s death today. 

“I want to express my sincere condolences to Dr Ali’s family, his friends and his colleagues,” the Minister for Health said in a statement this evening.

It’s clear from Dr Ali’s colleagues that he was a kind, compassionate, hardworking and highly professional man, working on the front line of Covid-19 to keep us all safe.

“We remember that behind every reported Covid-19 number is a person who loves and is loved, who leaves behind a family and a community who will miss them sorely,” Donnelly said. 

“Today we remember Dr Ali and the seven other healthcare workers who have lost their lives to Covid-19.” 

The Mater Hospital said: “He had been due to begin a shift at the Mater Hospital in April when he felt unwell. He asked to be seen as a patient and was admitted immediately with Covid 19 illness.

His colleagues remember him as a hardworking and diligent doctor with a humble and down to earth personality.

“The Mater Hospital extends its deepest sympathies to Dr Syed Waqqar Ali’s wife, family and loved ones at this very sad time,” it said.

HSE chief executive Paul Reid also paid tribute to Dr Ali earlier today and said in a statement that he had learned with great sadness of the doctor’s passing.

“In common with his colleagues, I know he worked diligently and selflessly to care for patients at all times, and particularly during the pandemic,” Reid said. 

Reid extended the sympathy of all in the HSE, and all healthcare staff, to Dr Ali’s wife, family and loved ones “at this very said time”.

Paying tribute to Dr Ali this afternoon, the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) said he was an “exemplary medical professional with an immense dedication to public service”. 

“His expertise, care and warmth made an impression with patients and colleagues alike,” it said.

The association said “this was evident every day” among those who worked with Dr Ali and “witnessed at first hand his deep commitment to healthcare”.

The IHCA added its “thoughts and condolences” are with Dr Ali’s wife, his children and mother “at this sad time”.

The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) said the death of Dr Syed Waqqar Ali “is a matter of sorrow for every health professional in Ireland”.

The organisation offered its “deepest sympathy” to the doctor’s family and colleagues. 

“This tragedy reminds us of the risks faced & sacrifices made by health professionals in the fight against Covid-19,” it added.

- With reporting by Orla Dwyer and Press Association