Doctor dies of COVID-19 after warning people to take pandemic seriously

A “much-loved” London eye doctor who warned of the dangers of underestimating the coronavirus has died after contracting the disease.

Dr Paul Kabasele received treatment for COVID 19 for a month in hospital, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said.

The trust said the 58-year-old was a “truly talented and hard-working doctor” who had worked at its hospital in Croydon for a decade.

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The ophthalmologist is said to have “provided an exceptional level of care to his patients due to his warm, reassuring and generous nature”.

Outside of his primary role, Dr Kabasele had “worked tirelessly” to improve the eye health of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he originally came from.

He also served as a church minister for more than 30 years and preached regularly for the Rock of Ages Christian Assembly in South East London.

It comes after the Royal College of Surgeons said NHS workers from Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups. which have to do with coronavirus the crisis should be removed from high-risk areas.

Sky News analysis indicated that 60% of medical staff who died with COVID-19 came from those groups.

Video posted online before he fell ill showed him urging churchgoers to take the virus seriously and not put “lives at risk”.

Rock of Ages said: “We have lost a great role model and father, but we rejoice because he has played his part and is now in peace with our Lord Jesus Christ.”

One fan added: “Dr. Paul was a pastor full of humility. I miss the soft tone of his voice. He was a role model. May God help us to follow his way.”

David Probert, chief executive at Moorfields Eye Hospital, said: “Paul was a much-loved member of the Moorfields family. Over the past decade, he has provided an exceptional level of care to his patients.

“He was incredibly hardworking, kind, gentle and a joy to work with. He will be greatly missed by many and his passing is a huge loss to us all. Our thoughts are with Paul’s family and friends in this incredibly difficult and heartbreaking situation. time.”